A rectangular-core (ribbon) fiber that guides and amplifies a single higher-order-mode (HOM) can potentially scale to much higher average powers than what is possible in traditional circular-core large-mode-area fibers. Such an amplifier would require mode-conversion at the input to enable interfacing with seed sources that typically output TEM₀₀ mode radiation and at the output to generate diffraction-limited radiation for end-user applications. We present the first simulation and experimental results of a mode conversion technique that uses two diffractive-optic-elements in conjugate Fourier planes to convert a diffraction limited TEM₀₀ mode to the HOM of a ribbon fiber. Mode-conversion-efficiency is approximately 84% and can theoretically approach 100%. We also demonstrate a mode-converter system that converts a single HOM of a ribbon fiber back to a diffraction-limited TEM₀₀ mode. Conversion efficiency is a record 80.5%.

© 2012 OSA

1. A. Tünnermann, T. Schreiber, F. Röser, A. Liem, S. Höfer, S. Nolte, and J. Limpert, “The renaissance and bright future of fibre lasers,” J. Phys. B38, 681–693 (2005). [CrossRef]
2. J. W. Dawson, M. J. Messerly, R. J. Beach, M. Y. Shverdin, E. A. Stappaerts, A. K. Sridharan, P. H. Pax, J. E. Heebner, C. W. Siders, and C. Barty, “Analysis of the scalability of diffraction-limited fiber lasers and amplifiers to high average power,” Opt. Express16, 13240–13266 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. R. J. Beach, M. D. Feit, R. H. Page, L. D. Brasure, R. Wilcox, and S. A. Payne, “Scalable antiguided ribbon laser,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B19, 1521–1534 (2002). [CrossRef]
4. S. Ramachandran, J. M. Fini, M. Mermelstein, J. W. Nicholson, S. Ghalmi, and M. F. Yan, “Ultra-large effective-area, higher-order mode fibers: a new strategy for high-power lasers,” Laser Photon. Rev.2, 429–448 (2008). [CrossRef]
5. A. L. Bullington, P. H. Pax, A. K. Sridharan, J. E. Heebner, M. J. Messerly, and J. W. Dawson, “Mode conversion in rectangular-core optical fibers,” Appl. Opt.51, 84–88 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. A. A. Ishaaya, G. Machavariani, N. Davidson, and A. A. Friesem, “Conversion of a high-order mode beam into a nearly gaussian beam by use of a single interferometric element,” Opt. Lett.28, 504–506 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
7. M.-Y. Chen and J. Zhou, “Mode converter based on mode coupling in an asymmetric dual-core photonic crystal fibre,” Journal of Optics A: Pure and Appl. Opt.10, 115304–115307 (2008). [CrossRef]
8. N. Davidson, A. A. Friesem, and E. Hasman, “Diffractive elements for annular laser beam transformation,” Appl. Phys. Lett.61, 381–383 (1992). [CrossRef]
9. A. E. Siegman, “Binary phase plates cannot improve laser beam quality,” Opt. Lett.18, 675–677 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
10. N. Lindlein, G. Leuchs, and S. Ramachandran, “Achieving gaussian outputs from large-mode-area higher-order-mode fibers,” Appl. Opt.46, 5147–5157 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
11. R. Oron, N. Davidson, and A. A. Friesem, “Continuous-phase elements can improve laser beam quality,” Opt. Lett.25, 939–941 (2000). [CrossRef]
12. G. Hergenhan, B. Lucke, and U. Brauch, “Coherent coupling of vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser arrays and efficient beam combining by diffractive optical elements:concept and experimental verification,” Appl. Opt.42, 1667–1680 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
13. M. Khajavikhan, A. Hoyer-Leitzel, and J. R. Leger, “Efficient conversion of light from sparse laser arrays into single-lobed far field using phase structures,” Opt. Lett.33, 2377–2379 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
14. J. Fienup, “Phase retrieval algorithms: a comparison,” Appl. Opt.21, 2758–2769 (1982). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
15. G. Zhou, Y. Chen, Z. Wang, and H. Song, “Genetic local search algorithm for optimization design of diffractive optical elements,” Appl. Opt.38, 4281–4290 (1999). [CrossRef]
16. J. M. Herrera-Fernandez and L. M. Sanchez-Brea, “Double diffractive optical element system for near-field shaping,” Appl. Opt.50, 4587–4593 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Appl. Opt.

• A. L. Bullington, P. H. Pax, A. K. Sridharan, J. E. Heebner, M. J. Messerly, and J. W. Dawson, “Mode conversion in rectangular-core optical fibers,” Appl. Opt.51, 84–88 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• N. Lindlein, G. Leuchs, and S. Ramachandran, “Achieving gaussian outputs from large-mode-area higher-order-mode fibers,” Appl. Opt.46, 5147–5157 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• G. Hergenhan, B. Lucke, and U. Brauch, “Coherent coupling of vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser arrays and efficient beam combining by diffractive optical elements:concept and experimental verification,” Appl. Opt.42, 1667–1680 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• J. Fienup, “Phase retrieval algorithms: a comparison,” Appl. Opt.21, 2758–2769 (1982). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• G. Zhou, Y. Chen, Z. Wang, and H. Song, “Genetic local search algorithm for optimization design of diffractive optical elements,” Appl. Opt.38, 4281–4290 (1999). [CrossRef]
• J. M. Herrera-Fernandez and L. M. Sanchez-Brea, “Double diffractive optical element system for near-field shaping,” Appl. Opt.50, 4587–4593 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• N. Davidson, A. A. Friesem, and E. Hasman, “Diffractive elements for annular laser beam transformation,” Appl. Phys. Lett.61, 381–383 (1992). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. Soc. Am. B

• R. J. Beach, M. D. Feit, R. H. Page, L. D. Brasure, R. Wilcox, and S. A. Payne, “Scalable antiguided ribbon laser,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B19, 1521–1534 (2002). [CrossRef]

J. Phys. B

• A. Tünnermann, T. Schreiber, F. Röser, A. Liem, S. Höfer, S. Nolte, and J. Limpert, “The renaissance and bright future of fibre lasers,” J. Phys. B38, 681–693 (2005). [CrossRef]

Journal of Optics A: Pure and Appl. Opt.

• M.-Y. Chen and J. Zhou, “Mode converter based on mode coupling in an asymmetric dual-core photonic crystal fibre,” Journal of Optics A: Pure and Appl. Opt.10, 115304–115307 (2008). [CrossRef]

Laser Photon. Rev.

• S. Ramachandran, J. M. Fini, M. Mermelstein, J. W. Nicholson, S. Ghalmi, and M. F. Yan, “Ultra-large effective-area, higher-order mode fibers: a new strategy for high-power lasers,” Laser Photon. Rev.2, 429–448 (2008). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• J. W. Dawson, M. J. Messerly, R. J. Beach, M. Y. Shverdin, E. A. Stappaerts, A. K. Sridharan, P. H. Pax, J. E. Heebner, C. W. Siders, and C. Barty, “Analysis of the scalability of diffraction-limited fiber lasers and amplifiers to high average power,” Opt. Express16, 13240–13266 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• A. E. Siegman, “Binary phase plates cannot improve laser beam quality,” Opt. Lett.18, 675–677 (1993). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• A. A. Ishaaya, G. Machavariani, N. Davidson, and A. A. Friesem, “Conversion of a high-order mode beam into a nearly gaussian beam by use of a single interferometric element,” Opt. Lett.28, 504–506 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• M. Khajavikhan, A. Hoyer-Leitzel, and J. R. Leger, “Efficient conversion of light from sparse laser arrays into single-lobed far field using phase structures,” Opt. Lett.33, 2377–2379 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• R. Oron, N. Davidson, and A. A. Friesem, “Continuous-phase elements can improve laser beam quality,” Opt. Lett.25, 939–941 (2000). [CrossRef]

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