Yb:YAG single-crystal fiber amplifiers for picosecond lasers using divided pulse amplification technique

Fabien Lesparre (1, 2) , Jean Thomas Gomes (2) , Xavier Delen (2) , Igor Martial (1) , Julien Didierjean (1) , Wolfgang Pallmann (3) , Bojan Resan (3) , Frédéric Druon (2) , François Balembois (2) , Patrick Georges (2)

1 Fibercryst
2 Laboratoire Charles Fabry / Lasers
3 JDSU - Ultrafast Lasers AG

A two-stage master-oscillator power-amplifier (MOPA) system based on Yb:YAG single-crystal-fiber (SCF) technology and designed for high peak power is studied to significantly increase the pulse energy of a low-power picosecond laser. The first SCF amplifier has been designed for high gain. Using a gain medium optimized in terms of doping concentration and length, an optical gain of 32 dB has been demonstrated. The second amplifier stage designed for high energy using the divided pulse technique allows us to generate a recombined output pulse energy of 2 mJ at 12.5 kHz with a pulse duration of 6 ps corresponding to a peak power of 320 MW. Average powers ranging from 25 to 55 W with repetition rates varying from 12.5 to 500 kHz have been demonstrated.

Domains: Physics [physics]; Physics [physics]; Optics [physics.optics]

Fabien Lesparre, Jean Thomas Gomes, Xavier Delen, Igor Martial, Julien Didierjean, et al.. Yb:YAG single-crystal fiber amplifiers for picosecond lasers using divided pulse amplification technique. Photonics West 2016, LASE, Solid State Lasers XXV: Technology and Devices, Feb 2016, San Francisco, United States. ⟨10.1364/OL.41.001628⟩. ⟨hal-01581957⟩