Open AccessImpact of gamma-ray radiation-induced photodarkening on mode instability degradation of an ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier
Author(s) -
Yi Sha Chen,
Hao Xu,
Yin Bing Xing,
Lei Liao,
Yi Bo Wang,
Fang Fang Zhang,
Xing Long He,
Hai Qing Li,
Jianchun Peng,
Lv Yun Yang,
Neng Li Dai,
Jin Yan Li
Publication year - 2018
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.26.020430
Subject(s) - photodarkening , optics , materials science , ytterbium , fiber laser , instability , radiation , laser , irradiation , optoelectronics , gamma ray , optical fiber , amplifier , doping , physics , cmos , astrophysics , mechanics , nuclear physics
The laser performance of a high-power ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier is mainly hindered by the onset of mode instability. In this work, the slope efficiency and mode instability threshold of the ytterbium-doped fiber under various gamma-ray radiation doses have been measured. Experimental results reveal that gamma-ray radiation-induced photodarkening degrades mode instability severely, and gamma-ray radiation-induced mode instability degradation can be partly bleached by hours of pump-light injection. It is shown that gamma-ray radiation-induced photodarkening results in a steep reduction of slope efficiency and mode instability threshold; moreover, the entire irradiated fiber can be partly bleached by hours of pump-light injection and exhibits both time and gamma-ray radiation-dose saturation properties. The experimental results indicate that mode instability mitigation can be partly realized by pump-light injection and implies photodarkening suppression is beneficial for TMI mitigation, which is very promising for the advancement of high-power fiber lasers.