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Transmission of Multiple Signals through an Optical Fiber Using Wavefront Shaping
Published on: March 20, 2017
High power pulsed fiber MOPA system incorporating electro-optic modulator based adaptive pulse shaping
Andrew Malinowski1, Khu Tri Vu, Kang Kang Chen
1Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
Optics Express
|December 10, 2009
Summary
Active pulse shaping using an Electro-Optic Modulator compensates for gain saturation in fiber amplifiers. This method generates custom pulse shapes like square and step, achieving millijoule energies without complex modeling.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Laser Physics
- Nonlinear Optics
Background:
- High-power fiber amplifiers are crucial for various applications.
- Gain saturation in these amplifiers distorts pulse shapes.
- Controlling pulse shapes is essential for precise laser applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate active pulse shaping for compensating gain saturation effects.
- To generate custom-defined output pulse shapes from a Ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier.
- To offer a method that avoids complex amplifier modeling.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing an Electro-Optic Modulator for active pulse shaping.
- Employing a high-power Ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier chain.
- Calculating necessary pulse shaping based on simple amplifier performance measurements.
Main Results:
- Successfully compensated for pulse shaping effects caused by gain saturation.
- Generated custom pulse shapes including square, step, and smooth profiles.
- Achieved millijoule pulse energies with the shaped pulses.
- Eliminated undesired transients by using modulator-based shaping.
Conclusions:
- Active pulse shaping with an Electro-Optic Modulator is effective in high-power fiber amplifiers.
- This technique allows for precise control over output pulse shapes.
- The method simplifies pulse shaping by relying on basic amplifier characterization.