Open Access6 kW single mode monolithic fiber laser enabled by effective mitigation of the transverse mode instability
Author(s) -
Baolai Yang,
Peng Wang,
Hanwei Zhang,
Xiaoming Xi,
Chen Shi,
Xiaolin Wang,
Xiaojun Xu
Publication year - 2021
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.433630
Subject(s) - optics , fiber laser , materials science , laser , laser beam quality , single mode optical fiber , laser power scaling , fiber , transverse mode , optoelectronics , polarization maintaining optical fiber , wavelength , optical fiber , fiber optic sensor , laser beams , physics , composite material
The transverse mode instability (TMI) has been one of the main limitations for the power scaling of single mode fiber lasers. In this work, we report a 6 kW single mode monolithic fiber laser enabled by effective mitigation of the TMI. The fiber laser employs a custom-made wavelength-stabilized 981 nm pump source, which remarkably enhanced the TMI threshold compared with the wavelength of 976 nm. With appropriately distributing bidirectional pump power, the monolithic fiber laser is scaled to 6 kW with single mode beam quality (M 2 <1.3). The stability is verified in a continuous operation for over 2 hours with power fluctuation below 1%.