Injection-Locked, Single Frequency, Multi-core Yb-doped Phosphate Fiber Laser

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Fiber Optics
• Quantum Computing

Background:

• Multi-core fiber lasers (MCFs) offer high power potential but achieving coherent operation across cores is challenging.
• Injection locking is a technique to synchronize laser frequencies and phases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate injection locking and single-frequency operation in a multi-core ytterbium-doped phosphate fiber laser (MCF).
• To investigate uniform lasing behavior across all 19 cores.
• To explore potential applications in coherent networks.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a single-frequency master laser for injection locking.
• Employed a pump beam homogenization technique for uniform core excitation.
• Developed and used an in-house MCF laser model for verification.

Main Results:

• Successfully achieved injection locking and single-frequency CW operation at 1030 nm across all 19 MCF cores.
• Each core produced milliwatts of power with similar lasing thresholds.
• Demonstrated uniform lasing behavior facilitated by pump homogenization.

Conclusions:

• This work presents the first demonstration of injection locking in an MCF.
• The developed MCF laser is suitable for applications requiring coherent, coupled oscillator networks.
• Potential applications include all-optical coherent Ising machines.