Abstract

We investigate diode pump absorption and temperature distribution in three erbium-doped double-clad fluoride fibers. Absorption is measured via fluorescence intensity and temperature distribution is measured with thermal imaging. Ray-tracing calculations of absorption and heat-equation modeling of temperature distribution are also conducted. We found excellent agreement between measurements and calculations for all fibers. Results indicate that erbium-doped fluoride fiber lasers have already reached maximum output powers allowed under natural convection cooling, with fiber end being the most critical. We propose cooling and fiber design optimizations that may allow an order-of-magnitude further power-scaling.

© 2009 OSA

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History
Original Manuscript: August 11, 2009
Manuscript Accepted: October 12, 2009
Revised Manuscript: October 9, 2009
Published: October 16, 2009

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Author Affiliations

Marko Marinček

Fotona d.d., Stegne 7, 1210 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment for Complex Matter, Institute Jožef Stefan, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Martin Čopič

Laboratory for Quantum Optics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana,
Jadranska 19, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment for Complex Matter, Institute Jožef Stefan, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Martin Gorjan

Laboratory for Quantum Optics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana,
Jadranska 19, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaFotona d.d., Stegne 7, 1210 Ljubljana, Slovenia

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