Coherent beam combination of two nanosecond fiber amplifiers by an all-optical feedback loop.

A passive coherent beam combination of two nanosecond amplifiers is realized by using an all-optical feedback loop. The width of the combined pulses is 9.7 ns, and the pulse repetition frequency is 2.

Polarization self-selection in a coherent beam combination system with an all-optical feedback loop.

Polarization self-selection in passive phasing of four fiber amplifiers with an all-optical feedback loop is demonstrated. The polarization extinction ratio (PER) of the combined beam is increased, and the polarized direction is selected with the use of a polarization-maintaining (PM) isolator and some non-PM components. The best visibility of the interference patterns is observed at 95.

Thermal effects in kilowatt all-fiber MOPA.

Thermal effects and output power characteristics of kilowatt all-fiber master-oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) are investigated. Proper designs for cooling apparatus are proposed and demonstrated experimentally, for the purpose of minimizing splice heating which is critical for the reliability of high power operation. By using these optimized methods, a thermal damage-free, highly efficient ytterbium-doped double-clad fiber MOPA operating at 1080 nm with 1.

Single-frequency linearly polarized master-oscillator fiber power amplifier system and its application in high fill factor coherent beam combining.

In this paper we combine the master-oscillator power fiber amplifier (MOPFA), active phase-compensation, and beam-tilting techniques to demonstrate high fill factor coherent beam combining. First, we optimize a single-frequency, linearly polarized MOPFA system with high scalability and flexibility based on compact, high efficiency Yb-doped fiber amplifier chains. Second, we demonstrate high fill factor coherent beam combining of these MOPFA arrays at a 50 W level in the far field successfully.

Stable pulse-compressed acousto-optic Q-switched fiber laser.

A novel acousto-optic switch operation by a simple laser-diode pumped acousto-optic, Q-switched, ytterbium-doped, double-clad fiber laser is reported. Stable compressed Q-switched sub-40 ns pulses with a beam quality factor (M(2)=2) are achieved at the repetition rate of 1-50 kHz. Q-switched pulses of ~20 microJ pulse energy and 35 ns pulse width are obtained at the repetition rate of 50 kHz.

Beam quality improvement of laser diode array by using off-axis external cavity.

A novel off-axis external cavity is designed for laser diode array to improve the beam quality. In this external cavity, a circle aperture with variable size is used as a spatial filter. The diameter of aperture is optimized to 1.

Focal shift in focused radially polarized ultrashort pulsed laser beams.

Beginning with a beam coherence polarization (BCP) matrix, we obtain an analytical intensity expression for radially polarized ultrashort pulsed laser beams that pass through an apertureless aplanatic lens. We also investigate the intensity distribution of radially polarized beams in the vicinity of the focus. The focal shift of these beams is studied in detail.

High power coherent beam combination from two fiber lasers.

Phase locking of two fiber lasers is demonstrated experimentally by the use of a self-imaging resonator with a spatial filter. The high-contrast interference strips of the coherent beam profile are observed. The coherent output power of the fiber array exceeds 12W and the efficiency of coherent power combination is 88% with pump power of 60W.

Nd:YAG ceramic laser obtained high slope-efficiency of 62% in high power applications.

By using quite uniformly nine-stacks side-around arranged compact pumping system, a high power Nd:YAG ceramic quasi-CW laser with high slope efficiency of 62% has been demonstrated. With 450 W quasi-CW stacked laser diode bars pumping at 808 nm, performance of the Nd:YAG ceramic laser with different output coupling mirrors has been investigated. Optimum output power of 236 W at 1064 nm was obtained and corresponding optical-to-optical conversion efficiency was as high as 52.

[Improvement of grating spectrograph and its application to frequency-doubling in PPLN].

Charge-coupled device (CCD) has been widely used in spectral detection and spectral imaging fields, which has a number of benefits: broad spectral range response, low detection limit, wide dynamic range, minimal dark current and readout noise as well as the abilities of signal integration, simultaneous multichannel detection, and real-time detection. The combination of a traditional one meter grating spectrograph and a science charge-coupled device (CCD) led to a real-time grating spectrograph for laser spectrum detection developed in this paper. Based on the new grating spectrograph, the spectral characteristic of frequency-doubling of a broad band double-cladding fiber laser in polarized lithium niobate (PPLN) has been investigated.

Compact continuous-wave blue lasers by direct frequency doubling of laser diodes with periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide crystals.

A compact continuous-wave blue laser has been demonstrated by direct frequency doubling of a laser diode with a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide crystal. The optimum PPLN temperature is near 28 degrees C, and the dependence of waveguide crystals on crystal temperature is less sensitive than that of bulk crystals. A total of 14.