Comparison of high-power diode pumped actively Q-switched double-clad flower shape co-doped-Er3+:Yb3+ fiber laser using acousto-optic and mechanical (optical) modulators

摘要

A diode-pumped acousto-optic Q-switching Er3+:Yb3+ co-doped high-power fiber laser is reported, laser output average power in excess of 1.65 W was achieved for Q-switching at relatively high repetition rates from 10 to 100 kHz. The shortest pulse duration obtained was 10 ns, giving a highest peak power of 9.8 kW and 98 mu J energy per pulse, this is the highest power yet reported from any type of actively Q-switched flower double-clad Er3+:Yb3+ fiber laser operating in low order mode at 1550 nm. The pulse train with high pulse-to-pulse stability of 95% occurred at a range of repetition rates up to 100 kHz with peak power of 0.4 kW, 40 ns pulse width and 16 mu J energy per pulse at 1550 nm for a launched pump power of 5 W. With the mechanical modulation Q-switching of the Er3+:Yb3+ co-doped fiber laser, it was found that the narrowest pulse width of 35 ns was obtained with peak power of 15.5 kW and energy per pulse 0.5 mJ at pulse repetition frequency of 1 kHz. A moderate pulse-to-pulse stability of 75% occurred over a range of high repetition rates. A comparison between mechanical modulation and acousto-optic Q-switching has been made at a repetition rate of 20 kHz. The energy per pulse, pulse width, and the average power of a mechanical optical Q-switching laser were greater than for the acousto-optic Q-switching, but the pulse width is narrower and so the high peak power of an acousto-optic Q-switching pulse is greater than for the mechanical (optical) Q-switching laser at repetition rates of up to 100 kHz.