Erbium:Ytterbium Codoped Large-Core Fiber Laser With 297-W Continuous-Wave Output Power

Author

Jeong, Yoonchan ; Yoo, Seongwoo ; Codemard, Christophe A. ; Nilsson, Johan ; Sahu, Jayanta K. ; Payne, David N. ; Horley, R. ; Turner, P.W. ; Hickey, Louise ; Harker, Andrew ; Lovelady, Mike ; Piper, Andy

Author_Institution

Univ. of Southampton, Southampton

Volume

13

Issue

3

fYear

2007

Firstpage

573

Lastpage

579

Abstract

We have demonstrated a high-power and high-efficiency erbium:ytterbium (Er:Yb) codoped fiber laser that produces 297 W of continuous-wave output at 1567 nm. The slope efficiency with respect to the launched pump power changed from 40% to 19% at higher output power due to the onset of Yb colasing at 1067 nm. However, the Yb colasing was essential for the suppression of catastrophic pulsation at high pump powers that otherwise results if the Yb-band gain is allowed to build up. Spectroscopic characteristics of the fiber and the impact of the Yb colasing on the 1567-nm slope efficiency are also discussed.

Keywords

erbium; fibre lasers; fluorescence; optical pumping; ytterbium; Yb-band gain; catastrophic pulsation suppression; colasing; continuous-wave output power; fluorescence decay; large-core fiber laser; power 297 W; pump power; slope efficiency; wavelength 1067 nm; wavelength 1567 nm; Diodes; Erbium; Erbium-doped fiber lasers; Fiber lasers; Laser excitation; Optical fibers; Power amplifiers; Power generation; Power lasers; Pump lasers; Erbium; lasers; optical fiber amplifiers; optical fiber lasers; ytterbium;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1077-260X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JSTQE.2007.897178

Filename

4244430