Publication No: 5120

Fibers and fiber-optic components for high power fiber lasers

H.Zimer¹, M.Kozak¹, A.Liem¹, F.Flohrer¹, F.Doerfel¹, P.Riedel¹, S.Linke¹, R.Horley², F.Ghiringhelli², S.Demoulins², M.Zervas^2,5, J.Kirchhof³, S.Unger³, S.Jetschke³, T.Peschel⁴, T.Schreiber⁴

1. JT Optical Engine GmbH + Co. KG, Prüssingstrasse 41, Jena, Germany
2. SPI Lasers, Wellington Park 3, Southampton, UK
3. Institut für Photonische Technologien, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 9, Jena, Germany
4. Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Optik und Feinmechanik, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 7, Jena, Germany
5. Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, UK

Abstract

The major challenge in the development of monolithic kW class CW fiber lasers is the efficient conversion of pump photons into a high brightness laser beam under the constraints of heat management, long term stability and nonlinearities. This article reviews the interaction of some fiber related aspects as e.g. fiber core composition, photodarkening and modality, as well as their influence on system complexity and power scalability. Recent work on active fibers, pump couplers, mode field adaptors and other fiber-optic components will be presented.

Proc. of SPIE (2011) Vol.7914 pp.791414-1

doi: 10.1117/12.879622

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