We report on the pulse shape of an actively Q-switched fiber laser. This master oscillator power amplifier architecture
generates pulses with multiple peaks due to its intrinsic dynamics. Modeling and experimental results provide us a
detailed understanding of the relative importance of the different time constants on the dynamics of the laser, which
allows us to define optimized design parameters that lead to smooth and controlled pulse shapes. This solution is simple
and robust; operation over a broad range of repetition rate and output power is achieved without any adjustment of the
laser settings, and the corresponding variation of the optical performances is minimal.
Fiber lasers products have been developed at JDS Uniphase with up to 25 Watt cw output power and diffraction limited beam. Similar fiber lasers have been demonstrated with over 100 Watt cw output power. The fiber laser is based on an all fiber optic cavity with no free alignments or possibility for contamination resulting in a reliable laser cavity. A distributed pump architecture based on an array of 3-5 Watt fiber coupled pumps provides redundancy for reliability. The unpolarized, fiber delivered, compact and direct modulated fiber laser sources are ideal for a range of applications including material processing, marking and reprographics. Moreover the pump source has applications in material processing as well. The advantages of the fiber laser are illustrated in marking system.
A solid-state laser cavity is studied where the laser crystal aberrations are corrected by a diffractive optic element. The type of aberration and the location of the correction plate are found to influence the modal performance of the cavity significantly. The largest modal discrimination is obtained for axicon-like crystal aberrations and when the correction is performed close to the end mirror. An experiment is performed with a laser- diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser. With no correction, a thermally induced aberration of approximately two waves is measured across the crystal. By using a diffractive corrector plate, the single-mode slope efficiency is increased by a factor of 4, and the total single-mode output power is increased by a factor of 3.
Several unconventional laser resonators are described, and their application to various laser systems is explored. Spatial mode control of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers is enhanced by two spatial filtering methods. The first employs a GRIN lens with a patterned mirror designed to reflect power only from desired modes. The angular selectivity of a Fabry-Perot etalon is used in the second system to improve spatial modal discrimination. Diffractive optical elements are used with a solid-state laser for beam shaping and aberration correction. An analysis of the effects of fabrication errors shows that higher-order diffraction terms and phase errors can result in distorted modes. However, proper cavity design can help to reduce these effects and insure proper mode shape.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
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.