Q-switching in fibre-lasers
Q-switching in fibre-lasers
One of the most attractive features of fibre lasers is their ability to produce significant pulse powers when Q-switched. Potential applications for such lasers include non-linear switching, OTDR measurements, materials processing and range-finding. We have, already demonstrated 100W:15ns pulses from a diode pumped Nd3+ fibre-laser and have obtained 15W:70ns at 1.56µm with a diode pumped Er3+/Yb3+ system. Pulses of 8W:155ns have been obtained in the visible from a Sm3+ fibre-laser (although this required an Ar+ pump laser). Considerably higher powers than these are predicted for diode-pumped lasers. In particular, theoretical analysis shows that the Er3+ laser is capable of producing pulses in excess of 1kW. To date the performance of the Q-switched fibre laser has been limited by the modulator used to effect the Q-switching. problems involved in Q-switching will be discussed and we will look at ways of overcoming them. Theoretical modelling allows us to predict many of the properties required of a modulator and the results of such calculations will be presented. In addition, Q-switched pulses are seen experimentally to be modulated at the round trip frequency - for some applications this effect may be very important and its origin will be discussed.
Barnes, W.L.
eb37c8ae-64f0-4857-a10d-202b4b09a271
Morkel, P.
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Farries, M.C.
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Reekie, L.
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Payne, D.N.
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1989
Barnes, W.L.
eb37c8ae-64f0-4857-a10d-202b4b09a271
Morkel, P.
b5cc15bc-8640-437a-a82e-0b0ac5c9a818
Farries, M.C.
2a86f02d-d271-410f-b065-e417c7df5c8f
Reekie, L.
ec314137-6924-44ad-86a4-ff3f9a67c1b5
Payne, D.N.
4f592b24-707f-456e-b2c6-8a6f750e296d
Barnes, W.L., Morkel, P., Farries, M.C., Reekie, L. and Payne, D.N.
(1989)
Q-switching in fibre-lasers.
SPIE Conference Fibre Laser Sources and Amplifiers, Boston, United States.
06 - 08 Sep 1989.
11 pp
.
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
One of the most attractive features of fibre lasers is their ability to produce significant pulse powers when Q-switched. Potential applications for such lasers include non-linear switching, OTDR measurements, materials processing and range-finding. We have, already demonstrated 100W:15ns pulses from a diode pumped Nd3+ fibre-laser and have obtained 15W:70ns at 1.56µm with a diode pumped Er3+/Yb3+ system. Pulses of 8W:155ns have been obtained in the visible from a Sm3+ fibre-laser (although this required an Ar+ pump laser). Considerably higher powers than these are predicted for diode-pumped lasers. In particular, theoretical analysis shows that the Er3+ laser is capable of producing pulses in excess of 1kW. To date the performance of the Q-switched fibre laser has been limited by the modulator used to effect the Q-switching. problems involved in Q-switching will be discussed and we will look at ways of overcoming them. Theoretical modelling allows us to predict many of the properties required of a modulator and the results of such calculations will be presented. In addition, Q-switched pulses are seen experimentally to be modulated at the round trip frequency - for some applications this effect may be very important and its origin will be discussed.
More information
Published date: 1989
Venue - Dates:
SPIE Conference Fibre Laser Sources and Amplifiers, Boston, United States, 1989-09-06 - 1989-09-08
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 77532
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/77532
PURE UUID: 3b58008f-4e95-4f6b-9c98-f38f17f9e9dc
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Date deposited: 11 Mar 2010
Last modified: 13 Mar 2024 23:54
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Contributors
Author:
W.L. Barnes
Author:
P. Morkel
Author:
M.C. Farries
Author:
L. Reekie
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