Overview of Sandia's fiber laser program

Dahv A.V. Kliner, Ray P. Bambha, Binh T. Do, Roger L. Farrow, Jean Philippe Fève, Brian P. Fox, G. Ronald Hadley, Andrea Hansen, Hanna J. Hoffman, Mircea Hotoleanu, Alexandra A. Hoops, Wen L. Hsu, Jeffrey P. Koplow, Joona Koponen, Sean W. Moore, Randal L. Schmitf, Paul E. Schrader, Joseph H. Simmons, Kelly Simmons-Potter, Arlee V. SmithMikko Söderlund, W. Joseph Thomes, Georg Wien

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sandia National Laboratories' program in high-power fiber lasers has emphasized development of enabling technologies for power scaling and gaining a quantitative understanding of fundamental limits, particularly for high-peak-power, pulsed fiber sources. This paper provides an overview of the program, which includes: (1) power scaling of diffractionlimited fiber amplifiers by bend-loss-induced mode filtering to produce >1 MW peak power and >1 mJ pulse energy with a practical system architecture; (2) demonstration of a widely tunable repetition rate (7.1-27 kHz) while maintaining constant pulse duration and pulse energy, linear output polarization, diffraction-limited beam quality, and <1% pulse-energy fluctuations; (3) development of microlaser seed sources optimized for efficient energy extraction; (4) high-fidelity, three-dimensional, time-dependent modeling of fiber amplifiers, including nonlinear processes; (5) quantitative assessment of the limiting effects of four-wave mixing and self-focusing on fiber-amplifier performance; (6) nonlinear frequency conversion to efficiently generate mid-infrared through deep-ultraviolet radiation; (7) direct diode-bar pumping of a fiber laser using embedded-mirror side pumping, which provides 2.0x higher efficiency and much more compact packaging than traditional approaches employing formatted, fiber-coupled diode bars; and (8) fundamental studies of materials properties, including optical damage, photodarkening, and gamma-radiation- induced darkening.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationLaser Source Technology for Defense and Security IV
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
EventLaser Source Technology for Defense and Security IV - Orlando, FL, United States
Duration: Mar 17 2008Mar 18 2008

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume6952
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherLaser Source Technology for Defense and Security IV
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando, FL
Period3/17/083/18/08

Keywords

  • Double-clad fiber
  • Fiber amplifier
  • Fiber array
  • Four-wave mixing
  • Microchip laser
  • Mode filtering
  • Nonlinear processes
  • Optical damage
  • Photodarkening
  • Radiation testing
  • Self-focusing
  • Side pumping
  • Yb-doped fiber laser

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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