Effective mitigation of photodarkening in Yb-doped lasers based on Al-silicate using UV/visible light

Riccardo Piccoli; Thierry Robin; David Méchin; Thomas Brand; Udo Klotzbach; Stefano Taccheo

doi:10.1117/12.2039013

12 March 2014 Effective mitigation of photodarkening in Yb-doped lasers based on Al-silicate using UV/visible light

Riccardo Piccoli, Thierry Robin, David Méchin, Thomas Brand, Udo Klotzbach, Stefano Taccheo

Proceedings Volume 8961, Fiber Lasers XI: Technology, Systems, and Applications; 896121 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2039013
Event: SPIE LASE, 2014, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

In this work we discuss the impact of visible light radiation on photodarkening generation in 1070-nm Yb-doped fiber lasers. Simultaneous photodarkening and photobleaching effects induced by 976 nm and 405 nm or 550 nm radiations respectively were investigated. We observed a significant photobleaching effect due to 405 nm radiation but not a complete recovery. A strong absorption of the 405 nm radiation by the excited ions (Excited-State Absorption) was also observed and found as a main limiting factor for the bleaching performance together with observation of photodarkening losses induced by ground-state absorption. To proper define the optimum bleaching wavelength we report, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, the Excited-State Absorption cross section in the visible range. The reported experiments allow to individuate the main parameters defining the optimum bleaching wavelength. In a final experiment, using optimized 550-nm wavelength bleaching radiation, we were able to operate a laser at 93% of its pristine power level compensating a power drop of about 45% in absence of bleaching. The method we present is an effective yet simple way to run laser using standard Al-silicate fibers with doping level over 10²⁶ ions/m³ and high inversion.

Citation Download Citation

Riccardo Piccoli, Thierry Robin, David Méchin, Thomas Brand, Udo Klotzbach, and Stefano Taccheo "Effective mitigation of photodarkening in Yb-doped lasers based on Al-silicate using UV/visible light", Proc. SPIE 8961, Fiber Lasers XI: Technology, Systems, and Applications, 896121 (12 March 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2039013

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