Short-pulse gain-switched Raman fiber laser based on conventional silica fibers. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quan, Changjun; Hu, Zeqiu; Wu, Duanduan; Wang, Rongping; Dai, Shixun; Nie, Qiuhua
• Is Part Of: Optics & laser technology. Volume 141(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Raman fiber laser -- Gain switching -- Short pulse; Optics -- Periodicals; Lasers -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 621.366
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlastec.2021.107154
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0030-3992

Abstract

Highlights: Traditional single mode fiber (SMF) is used as Raman gain fiber. Gain switching technique is successfully applied for short pulse generation in this RFL. It can speed up population inversion and enhance laser conversion efficiency. By outputting 90% intra-cavity laser, this RFL has achieved the high average output power of 670 mW and the large single pulse energy of 223 nJ. To suppress group velocity mismatch in pulse-pumped RFL, the pump source and laser parameters are carefully selected. Abstract: We report a high-energy 1666 nm short-pulse Raman fiber laser (RFL) based on gain-switching scheme. The RFL cavity is formed by conventional single mode fibers (SMFs), which is with low connection loss, low cost and ultrahigh compactness. To reduce the intra-cavity laser intensity and group velocity mismatch, the laser cavity and pump source parameters (i.e. laser output coupling, single-pass cavity length and pump pulse duration) are carefully selected to be 90%, 1 km and 10 ns, respectively. At last, an average output power of 670 mW, a single pulse energy of 223 nJ and a laser conversion efficiency of 66.9% have been successfully achieved. This work can clear a path towards high-performance and low cost 1666 nm fiber laser sources.