ABSTRACT
Monolithic distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) cavity which directly integrates fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) into the photosensitive RE-doped fibers is a promising configuration in constructing compact and efficient single frequency fiber lasers (SFFLs). Yet, the doping level of rare-earth (RE) ions has generally to be sacrificed in the classical Ge-photosensitized RE-doped silica fibers because of the dramatic refractive index increase caused by the introduction of Ge. Here, we demonstrate an approach to realize the trade-off between photosensitivity and RE doping concentration. We validate that the addition of a small amount of cerium (0.37wt.%) instead of Ge could photosensitize Yb3+-doped silica fiber (YDF), while maintaining fiber numerical aperture (NA) at 0.12 under a high 2.5-wt.% Yb doping level. Based on the short monolithic DBR cavity constructed by this germanium-free photosensitive highly YDF, a 1064â nm fiber laser with a 48.6% slope efficiency and an over 200â mW power on two orthogonally polarized modes could be realized. Further stable and linear-polarized 1064â nm SFFL is also demonstrated in a designed monolithic polarization maintaining cavity with an output power of 119â mW and an efficiency of 26.4%. Our results provide an alternative way to develop photosensitive highly RE-doped fibers towards monolithic laser cavity application.
ABSTRACT
We demonstrated an efficient way to enhance and flatten the emission cross sections of Er3+ ions at the L-band in the silicate fiber amplifier by increasing Mg2+ (up to 22.5â mol%) with high field strength. High values of Er3+ concentration, lifetime, and L-band emission cross section were achieved in our silicate fibers. Particularly, the flatness at the L-band was achieved to be 0.8â dB, and a high gain coefficient at 1625â nm (4.7â dB/m) was demonstrated by pumping meter-scale Er-silicate fibers. The as-prepared Er-silicate fibers are attractive for the L-band fiber amplifier.