Very high power pulsed fiber laser
A high power integrated fiber laser system includes cascaded amplifiers that utilize low numerical aperture fiber amplifiers. The system is rugged and lightweight.
1. A high power, integrated fiber laser amplifier comprising a seed laser producing a seed pulse having a wavelength of about 1 μ and one or more power amplifier stages comprising:
means for providing light seed pulses at a pulse repetition rate in the range of about 10 Hz to about 100 Hz;
a fiber preamplifier receiving and amplifying said seed pulses, said fiber preamplifier having a first core diameter;
a splitter arranged to receive amplifier seed pulses from said preamplifier and split said amplified seed pulses into plurality of channels,
a plurality of fiber power amplifiers, each of which comprises a low numerical aperture, coiled clad fiber, having a core diameter larger than said first core diameter,
means for coupling each said fiber preamplifier channels to a respective one of said fiber power amplifiers.
2. A high power, integrated fiber laser amplifier according to claim 1 wherein said low numerical aperture is between 0.06 and 0.08.
3. A high power, integrated fiber laser system according to claim 1 further comprising a tapered fiber bundle connected to the cladding of said fiber power amplifier for directing pump energy into said cladding.
4. A high power, integrated fiber laser according to claim 1 further comprising:
first means for pumping said fiber preamplifier,
second means for pumping said fiber power amplifier, and
means for synchronizing the seed pulse with said first and second means for pumping to reduce ASE.