Over 3.8 W, 3.4†µm picosecond mid-infrared parametric conversion based on a simplified one-to-many scheme.

In this paper, we demonstrate a simplified one-to-many scheme for efficient mid-infrared (MIR) parametric conversion. Such a scheme is based on a continuous wave (CW) single longitudinal mode master oscillator power-amplifier (MOPA) fiber system as the signal source and a picosecond pulsed MOPA fiber system, exhibiting multiple longitudinal modes, as the pump source. The signal and pump beams are combined and co-coupled into a piece of 50-mm long 5% MgO-doped PPLN crystal for the parametric conversion. As high as ∼3.82 W average power at a central idler wavelength of ∼3.4 µm is achieved when the launched pump and signal powers are ∼41.73 and ∼11.45 W, respectively. Above some threshold value, the delivered idler power shows a roll-over effect against the signal power and saturation-like effect against the pump power. Consequently, the highest conversion efficiency is observed at such a threshold pump power. To the best of our knowledge, our result represents the highest average power produced from any single-pass parametric conversion source with >3 µm idler wavelength feeding with a CW signal. Moreover, our proposed scheme can simplify the design of parametric conversion system significantly and meanwhile make the system more robust in applications. This is attributed to two main aspects. Firstly, the scheme's one-to-many feature can reduce wavelength sensitivity remarkably in the realization of quasi-phase-matching. Secondly, for moderate power requirement it does not always require a high peak power synchronized pulsed signal source; a CW one can be an alternative, thereby making the system free from complex time synchronization and the related time jitter.

10 µJ noise-like pulse generated from all fiberized Tm-doped fiber oscillator and amplifier.

Herein, we presented a high energy noise-like (NL) pulse Tm-doped fiber laser (TDFL) system. Relying on the nonlinear amplifying loop mirror (NALM), stable noise-like pulses with coherence spike width of ∼317 fs and envelope width of ∼4.2 ns were obtained from an all polarization-maintaining fiberized oscillator at central wavelength of ∼1946.4 nm with 3 dB bandwidth of ∼24.9 nm. After the amplification in an all-fiberized TDF amplifier system, the maximum average output power of ∼32.8 W and pulse energy of ∼10.1 µJ were obtained, which represents the highest pulse energy of NL pulse at ∼2 µm, to the best of our knowledge. We believe that the high energy NL pulse source has the potential application in mid-infrared supercontinuum generation.