Diamond Raman lasers are an emerging high-power laser technology offering kW-level beam powers with high brightness. Here we report experimental observation of a diamond thermal lens at output powers up to 1.1 kW in a quasi-steady-state regime. It is found that a thermal lens of up 16 diopters is induced, which causes the beam quality to evolve over the investigated power range. The results aid design at higher power and clarify conditions under which beam quality degradation is expected when scaling output power.
High-power single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) lasers are crucial for applications such as LIGO, sodium guide stars, isotope separation and atom cooling, but are challenging due to gain profile inhomogeneities and spatial hole burning. This work shows that a SLM 620 nm laser is firstly achieved using a standing-wave diamond Raman resonator with intracavity second harmonic generation (SHG). In addition to the benefits of the spatial hole burning-free gain medium [1], SHG provides a valuable additional mechanism for increasing gain competition and therefore enhancing SLM stability. Nascent secondary modes experience double the nonlinear loss in the SHG crystal due to the role of sum frequency generation with the primary mode [2]. A further feature of the current external standing-wave cavity design is that the cavity is non-resonant at the pump frequency, thereby allowing the laser to be pumped without mutual control of the wavelength and cavity length and by using multi-longitudinal-mode (MLM) lasers with a spacing different to the free-spectral-range of the diamond Raman laser.
A quasi-continuous-wave external cavity diamond Raman laser with 1.2 kW output power was demonstrated using gated pump pulses of 100 µs duration, which was 7 times longer than the time constant for the establishment of steady-state temperature gradients. An 83% slope efficiency and a 53% optical-to-optical efficiency were obtained in conversion from a 1.064 µm Nd:YAG pump to a 1.24 µm first Stokes. The transient Stokes behavior from the sharp turn-on was consistent with calculations for the first Stokes build-up time. A brightness enhancement factor of 56 was obtained from the M2 = 15 pump beam. An observed increase in the first Stokes beam quality from M2 = 2.95 to M2 = 1.25 with increase of the Raman laser output power indicated the presence of a steady-state thermal lens in diamond.
We demonstrate a continuous-wave diamond Brillouin laser (DBL) in a ring cavity, operating near 532 nm with a 167 GHz Stokes shift. The DBL is pumped by a narrow-line (<1 MHz), frequency-doubled ytterbium fiber laser with the intracavity power resonantly enhanced via Hänsch-Couillaud locking. The measured threshold enabled the Brillouin gain coefficient in diamond to be determined for the first time, yielding a value of 60 cm/GW for pump and Brillouin polarizations aligned parallel to the 〈111〉 crystallographic direction in diamond (determined by the cut of our diamond in this case). Analysis of diamond’s photoelastic tensor shows that for polarization aligned to 〈110〉 for maximum gain, a coefficient of 115 cm/GW can be deduced, the highest bulk Brillouin gain coefficient reported for any material. The high Brillouin gain coefficient in combination with outstanding optical and thermal properties, indicates great potential for realizing diamond lasers and stimulated Brillouin scattering-enabled devices of performance far exceeding other materials.
We report a second-Stokes diamond Raman laser in eye-safe wavelength capable of high power and large-scale-factor brightness enhancement. Using a quasi-continuous 1.06 μm pump of power 823 W (0.85% duty cycle) and M2 up to 6.4, a maximum output power of 302 W was obtained with an M2 = 1.1 providing an overall brightness enhancement factor of 6.0. The output power is the highest single-mode power reported for Er-doped and Raman fiber lasers (~300 W). The measurements are in good agreement with model calculations, which we use to optimize and predict performance over wider range of power and input beam quality. The results highlight a novel pathway to high brightness eye-safe lasers based on relatively incoherent 1.0–1.1 μm pumps. The concept may be adapted and extended to other wavelength regions by using other pumps or via higher-order (3+) cascading. For example, to generate high brightness red output near 0.62 – 0.67 m by using second harmonic pumps near 0.53 μm. A large number of wavelength options are conceivable as a result of the wide transparency of diamond (0.23–3.8 µm, and > 6 µm).
We present our recent advances on power scaling of a high-power single-pass pumped CVD-diamond Raman oscillator at 1.2 μm. The single pass scheme reduced feedback to the high gain fiber amplifier, which pumps the oscillator. The Yb-doped multi-stage fiber amplifier itself enables up to 1 kW output power at a narrow linewidth of 0.16 nm. We operate this laser in quasi-cw mode at 10% duty cycle and on-time (pulse) duration of 10 ms. With a maximum conversion efficiency of 39%, a maximum steady-state output power of 380 W and diffraction limited beam quality was achieved.
We present our recent advances on power scaling of a high-power single-pass pumped CVD-diamond Raman oscillator at 1.2 μm. The single pass scheme reduced feedback to the high gain fiber amplifier, which pumps the oscillator. The Yb-doped multi-stage fiber amplifier itself enables up to 1 kW output power at a narrow linewidth of 0.16 nm. We operate this laser in quasi-cw mode at 10% duty cycle and on-time (pulse) duration of 10 ms. With a maximum conversion efficiency of 39%, a maximum steady-state output power of 380 W and diffraction limited beam quality was achieved.
We present our recent advances in the field of Raman frequency conversion using high-optical quality CVD-diamond. Different diamond Raman lasers were developed for efficiently generating multi-Watt output at specific wavelengths from the visible to the eye-safe spectral range, while single-frequency operation was accomplished by exploiting an intrinsic mode stability mechanism.
We discuss the hybrid integration of multiple components for the production of telecom band single photon sources. We implement four, on-chip, waveguide channels capable of producing four spatially separated collinear pairs of single photons. Using laser inscribed waveguide circuits and point-by-point bre Bragg gratings (FBG), we interface, separate and lter generated photon pairs. We propose using fast switches to actively route multiple heralded single photons to a single output producing an enhanced rate while maintaining a xed noise level.
The femtosecond laser direct-write technique was used to create a 2x2 single-mode waveguide coupler in Yb-doped
borosilicate glass. Initial modelling demonstrates that a reversible change in splitting ratio at 800 nm of more than 20% is
possible (i.e. 50:50 to 30:70) if a shift in refractive index of the order of 1×10-4 can be induced. Such a shift is expected
to be achieved through resonant optical excitation at 976 nm of the ytterbium ions, which increases the refractive index
through heating and the direct pumping of a saturable optical absorption.
We present apodised Bragg waveguides inscribed in fused silica using a high repetition rate fs laser system. By varying the
modulation with a pulse picker, the mean refractive index over the grating length could be kept constant, while the grating
strength is varied. Thus, Bragg waveguides with zero crossing Gaussian modulation profile could be demonstrated. The
side-lobes were suppressed by about 10 dB compared to a uniform grating.
The ability to tune the Bragg wavelength of a fibre-Bragg grating (FBG) in an all-fibre laser can offer added
functionality such as laser wavelength tunability, polarization selectivity,1 and Q-switching.2 Compared to current
techniques which rely on mechanically straining the FBG to achieve Bragg-wavelength tunability, an all-optical
technique for tuning an FBG offers potentially faster switching speeds and a more robust and simple cavity. All-optical
tuning of the Bragg wavelength of an FBG has been demonstrated previously by resonant optical pumping; however this
technique has only been applied to passive systems for switching applications.3 In this work, we have further
investigated this optical-tuning process, experimentally identifying three time-scale regimes, and optimised it for
application to active systems. Furthermore, we constructed an erbium all-fibre laser cavity consisting of an outputcoupler
FBG and an optically-tunable, high-reflector FBG. The cavity pumping and the optical tuning of the FBG were
kept independent. By repetitively tuning the high-reflector FBG on- and off-resonance with the output-coupler FBG, we
actively Q-switched the erbium fibre laser at repetition rates up to 35 kHz, limited only by our diode driver. We show
that grating tuning at >300 kHz is possible with the existing embodiment, and discuss further potential to operate at MHz
rates.
In this paper we demonstrate a simple temperature and strain discriminating sensor based on a single fibre Bragg grating
inscribed by a femtosecond laser via the point-by-point technique. These gratings exhibit strong and extensive cladding
mode structures and by simultaneously monitoring both the Bragg wavelength and a cladding mode spaced by ~ 40 nm
from the Bragg peak, as a function of both temperature and strain, it is possible to distinguish between the two effects
and potentially obtain and increased sensitivity over prior reports for similar systems. In preliminary experiments the two
parameters were determined with an accuracy of 1°C and 40 με respectively. Due to the close spectral separation of the
two peaks that were monitored, quick and simultaneously measurements of the two parameters was possible, allowing
for real time measurements of the temperature and strain and making the device practical for use in various applications.
In the “real world”, Photonics is somewhat invisible to those who rely upon it worldwide. We would like students to connect their everyday experiences of communications with the underlying ideas in Photonics. To do this, we have developed the Photonics Simulator to illustrate to high school students how text or information is coded into binary optical signals which are relayed through photonic communications networks from sender to receiver. Using our simulator, students construct a virtual network, and then test it by sending messages. The messages are coded using ASCII binary code as digital signals in data packets with address headers, which need to be switched, combined, amplified, or delayed to get to their designated address. The students must manage their power budget, correctly target each message address, and avoid collisions of data packets to send their messages uncorrupted and error-free. We tested an early version of the simulator with five Year 9 and 10 classes. The students provided many constructive comments and their feedback was used to improve the graphical interface of the simulator. We subsequently tested the simulator with 80 Year 9 students in short workshops. Overall we had a very positive response - it was more fun than a normal class, and interactivity helped students retain information. Students enjoy the visual aspects– they see how messages are delivered, and learn the function of each network component by experiment. Tests of the simulator at the Macquarie Siemens Science Experience were also encouraging, with one student even sneaking back to class to complete his challenges!
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