Open AccessHigher-order mode fiber enables high energy chirped-pulse amplification
Author(s) -
Xiang Peng,
Kyungbum Kim,
Michael Mielke,
Tim F. Booth,
Jeffrey W. Nicholson,
John M. Fini,
Xiaoping Liu,
A. DeSantolo,
Paul S. Westbrook,
R.S. Windeler,
Eric M. Monberg,
F. DiMarcello,
C. Headley,
D. J. DiGiovanni
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.21.032411
Subject(s) - optics , materials science , fiber laser , femtosecond , mode volume , fiber , optical fiber , pulse duration , chirped pulse amplification , dispersion shifted fiber , erbium , laser , optoelectronics , fiber optic sensor , physics , composite material
Energy scaling of femtosecond fiber lasers has been constrained by nonlinear impairments and optical fiber damage. Reducing the optical irradiance inside the fiber by increasing mode size lowers these effects. Using an erbium-doped higher-order mode fiber with 6000 µm(2) effective area and output fundamental mode re-conversion, we show a breakthrough in pulse energy from a monolithic fiber chirped pulse amplification system using higher-order mode propagation generating 300 µJ pulses with duration <500 fs (FWHM) and peak power >600 MW at 1.55 µm. The erbium-doped HOM fiber has both a record large effective mode area and excellent mode stability, even when coiled to reasonable diameter. This demonstration proves efficacy of a new path for high energy monolithic fiber-optic femtosecond laser systems.