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Higher-order mode fiber enables high energy chirped-pulse amplification
Optics Express
|February 12, 2014
Summary
Researchers achieved a breakthrough in high-energy femtosecond fiber lasers by using higher-order mode (HOM) fiber. This novel approach overcomes previous limitations, enabling higher pulse energies for advanced laser applications.
Area of Science:
- Laser Physics and Photonics
- Nonlinear Optics
- Fiber Optics Technology
Background:
- Energy scaling in femtosecond fiber lasers is limited by nonlinear effects and fiber damage.
- Increasing the mode size within the fiber reduces optical irradiance, mitigating these impairments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a breakthrough in pulse energy for monolithic fiber chirped pulse amplification systems.
- To investigate the use of higher-order mode (HOM) propagation for energy scaling.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an erbium-doped higher-order mode fiber with a large effective area (6000 µm²).
- Employed output fundamental mode re-conversion.
- Propagated pulses through the HOM fiber in a monolithic chirped pulse amplification system.
Main Results:
- Generated 300 µJ pulse energy with durations <500 fs (Full Width at Half Maximum).
- Achieved peak power exceeding 600 MW at a 1.55 µm wavelength.
- Demonstrated a record large effective mode area and excellent mode stability in the erbium-doped HOM fiber, even under coiling.
Conclusions:
- This work establishes a new pathway for developing high-energy monolithic fiber-optic femtosecond laser systems.
- The use of HOM propagation in large-mode-area fibers is a viable strategy for overcoming energy scaling limitations.
