Open AccessHigh-Power fiber amplifier with widely tunable repetition rate, fixed pulse duration, and multiple output wavelengths
Author(s) -
Paul E. Schrader,
Roger L. Farrow,
Dahv A. V. Kliner,
Jean-Philippe Fève,
Nicolas Landru
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.14.011528
Subject(s) - optics , pulse duration , materials science , laser beam quality , amplifier , amplified spontaneous emission , high harmonic generation , laser , fiber laser , second harmonic generation , wavelength , optoelectronics , physics , laser beams , cmos
We report a pulsed, fiber-amplified microchip laser providing widely tunable repetition rate (7.1 - 27 kHz) with constant pulse duration (1.0 ns), pulse energy up to 0.41 mJ, linear output polarization, diffraction-limited beam quality (M(2) < 1.2), and < 1% pulse-energy fluctuations. The pulse duration was shown to minimize nonlinear effects that cause temporal and spectral distortion of the amplified pulses. This source employs passive Q-switching, single-stage single-pass amplification, and cw pumping, thus offering high efficiency, simplicity, and compact, rugged packaging for use in practical applications. The high peak power and high beam quality make this system an ideal pump source for nonlinear frequency conversion, and we demonstrated efficient harmonic generation and optical parametric generation of wavelengths from 213 nm to 4.4 mum with Watt-level output powers.