Phys.org October 9, 2024
Side-pumping fibre combiners offer several advantages in fibre laser design, including distributed pump absorption, reduced heat load, and improved flexibility and reliability. However, conventional fabrication methods face limitations due to significant differences in the thermal properties of pump-delivering silica fibres and signal-guiding fluoride-based fibres. Researchers in Germany addressed these challenges by introducing a design for a fuse-less side-polished (D-shaped) fibre-based pump combiner comprising multimode silica and double-clad fluoride-based fibres. The results demonstrated stable coupling efficiency over 8 hours of continuous operation under active thermal control. The pump combiner integrated into a linear Er-doped fibre laser cavity showed continuous-wave generation. According to the researchers their approach presents a simple, repeatable, and reproducible pump combiner design that opens new possibilities for leveraging fibre-based component technology in soft glass matrices and other emerging fibres with unique compositions… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Hybrid Side-polished pump combiner as an integrated building block for robust all-fiber mid-IR lasers… Credit: Light: Advanced Manufacturing , Article number: 39 (2024)Â