Design of a polymer-based cladding mode stripper with a distributed temperature profile.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Materials Science

Background:

• High-power fiber lasers require efficient management of cladding modes.
• Existing cladding mode strippers (CMS) face challenges in power handling and thermal management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and experimentally validate an optimized polymer-based fiber cladding mode stripper (CMS).
• To enable distributed power extraction and temperature monitoring along the CMS length.
• To facilitate the development of high-power all-fiber lasers.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a polymer-based CMS using a unique partial fiber stripping technique.
• Utilizing a 400 µm double-clad fiber (DCF) as the base for the CMS.
• Experimental characterization of power extraction and temperature distribution.

Main Results:

• The designed CMS successfully extracts 300 W of inner cladding power.
• Achieved an attenuation coefficient of 18.8 dB.
• Demonstrated a low temperature gradient of 0.17°C/watt along the CMS.
• Successfully developed an all-fiber 150 W thulium fiber laser operating at 1.94 µm.

Conclusions:

• The optimized polymer-based CMS offers efficient power extraction and thermal management.
• The partial fiber stripping method is effective for distributed power management.
• The developed CMS is a key component for high-power all-fiber thulium lasers.