We report a master-oscillator/power-amplifier laser system featuring a polarizing and coilable 40-micron-core Yb-doped photonic crystal fiber as the final-stage amplifier. The laser source generates 3.4 ns pulses at a repetition rate 19 kHz, with maximum pulse energy 1.2 mJ, maximum average power 22.8 W, near diffraction-limited (M² < 1.1) beam quality, and 20% electrical to optical efficiency in a compact package. This pulsed-fiber laser flight system provides high pulse energy, average power, peak power, diffraction limited beam quality, and high efficiency all in a thermally and mechanically stable compact package.

Date Published: 23 May 2013
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 8733, Laser Technology for Defense and Security IX, 87330Y (23 May 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2014313

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8733:
Laser Technology for Defense and Security IX
Mark Dubinskii; Stephen G. Post, Editor(s)