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High-energy in-fiber pulse amplification for coherent lidar applications
Valery Philippov1, Christophe Codemard, Yoonchan Jeong
1Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, Building 46, Highfield, Southampton, UK.
Optics Letters
|November 24, 2004
Summary
A novel fiber amplifier chain generates 1.5-micrometer pulses for coherent lidar. It achieved 0.29-mJ, 100-ns pulses at 4 kHz without Brillouin scattering, demonstrating efficient energy gain.
Area of Science:
- Optical Engineering
- Laser Physics
- Fiber Optics
Background:
- Coherent lidar systems require high-energy, narrow-linewidth laser pulses.
- Erbium-ytterbium (Er:Yb) codoped fiber amplifiers offer a promising platform for generating such pulses due to their efficient energy transfer and broad emission bandwidth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on the development and performance of an Er:Yb codoped fiber amplifier chain for generating pulses suitable for coherent lidar applications.
- To optimize the power amplification stage for high energy output and good beam quality.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an Er:Yb codoped fiber amplifier chain architecture.
- The final amplification stage featured a 1.8-m long fiber with a 50-microm core diameter.
- Characterized pulse energy, duration, repetition rate, Brillouin scattering, and beam quality (M2).
Main Results:
- Achieved a 23-dB energy gain in the final power amplification stage.
- Generated pulses with 0.29-mJ energy and 100-ns duration.
- Operated at a repetition rate of 4 kHz with no observed Brillouin scattering.
- Obtained a beam quality factor (M2) of 2.1.
Conclusions:
- The developed Er:Yb codoped fiber amplifier chain is effective for generating high-energy pulses for coherent lidar.
- The final amplification stage demonstrates efficient energy extraction and good beam quality without detrimental nonlinear effects like Brillouin scattering.