Towards VECSEL frequency combs

Keith G. Wilcox

doi:10.1117/12.2002297

18 February 2013 Towards VECSEL frequency combs

Keith G. Wilcox

Proceedings Volume 8606, Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) III; 860607 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2002297
Event: SPIE LASE, 2013, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Significant progress has been made over the last year towards generating frequency combs using VECSELs. Here, I will discuss recent progress made generating < 4kW peak power femtosecond pulse VECSELs, where we have achieved 3.3 W average power with 400 fs pulse duration at 1.7 GHz repetition rate. This has been achieved by exploiting the rapid power scaling progress made in the field of CW VECSELs [1]. The gain structure used here is grown and processed by the University of Marburg, and the window layer is etched for anti-resonance to increase the gain bandwidth and reduce the dispersion [2]. We have used this to generate supercontinuum, achieving 45 % throughput in a 2.2 micron core photonic crystal fiber when the VECSEL produced 1 W average output power. A continuum with a width of 175 nm is generated. At higher average powers heating of the fiber tip reduces coupling efficiency which limits the supercontinuum bandwidth and we will discuss measures to avoid this. Finally, I will outline approaches to further reduce the pulse length, whilst maintaining the average power, to a point where generating coherent octave spanning supercontinuum, suitable for F-2F stabilization should become a reality.

Citation Download Citation

Keith G. Wilcox "Towards VECSEL frequency combs", Proc. SPIE 8606, Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) III, 860607 (18 February 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2002297

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available