Q-switching of a fiber laser with a single crystal photo-elastic modulator
Optics Express, Vol. 15, Issue 10, pp. 6177-6182 (2007)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.15.006177
Acrobat PDF (198 KB)
Abstract
A study of using a single crystal photo-elastic modulator for active Q-switching of a fiber laser is presented. The modulator, which oscillates in a longitudinal eigenmode, was realized with LiTaO3. This induces due to the photo-elastic effect a modulated artificial birefringence which modulates the polarization of passing light. When used together with a polarizer inside a laser cavity the laser photon life time is strongly modulated and the laser may start to emit laser pulses. We realized this with a fiber laser based on a 5m long double clad Nd-doped fiber. The pulse repetition frequency was 400 kHz and the pulse duration 300ns.
© 2007 Optical Society of America
1. Introduction
L. A. Zenteno, H. Po, and N. M. Cho, “All-solid-state passively Q-switched mode-locked Nd-doped fiber laser,” Opt. Lett. 15, 115–117 (1990). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
V. N. Philippov, A. V. Kiryanov, and S. Unger, “Advanced configuration of erbium fiber passively Q-switched laser with Co:ZnSe crystal as saturable absorber,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett., 16, 57–59 (2004). [CrossRef]
M. Laroche, A. M. Chardon, J. Nilsson, D. P. Shepherd, W. A. Clarkson, S. Girard, and R. Moncorge, “Compact diode-pumped passively Q-switched tunable Er-Yb double-clad fiber laser,” Opt. Lett. 27, 1980–1982 (2002). [CrossRef]
L. Luo and P. L. Chu, “Passive Q-switched erbium-doped fibre laser with saturable absorber,” Opt. Commun. 161, 257–263 (1999). [CrossRef]
R. Paschotta, R. Hring, E. Gini, H. Melchior, U. Keller, H. L. Ferhaus, and D. J. Richardson, “Passively Q-switched 0.1-mJ fiber laser system at 1.53 mm,” Opt. Lett. 24, 388–390 (1999). [CrossRef]
A. F. El-Sherif and T. A. King, “High energy, high brightness Q-switched Tm3+-doped fibre laser using an electro-optic modulator,” Opt. Commun. 218, 337–344 (2003). [CrossRef]
M. Delgado-Pinar, D. Zalvidea, A. Diez, P. Perez-Millan, and M. Andres, “Q-switching of an all-fiber laser by acousto-optic modulation of a fiber Bragg grating,” Opt. Express 14, 1106–1112 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
D. D. Zalvidea, N. A. Russo, R. Duchowicz, M. Delgado-Pinar, A. Dýez, J. L. Cruz, and M. V. Andres, “High-repetition rate acoustic-induced Q-switched all-fiber laser,” Opt. Commun. 244, 315–319 (2005). [CrossRef]
P. Pérez-Millán, A. Díez, M. Andrés, D. Zalvidea, and R. Duchowicz, “Q-switched all-fiber laser based on magnetostriction modulation of a Bragg grating,” Opt. Express 13, 5046–5051 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Y. Joeng, Y. Kim, A. Liem, K. Moerl, S. Hoefer, A. Tuennermann, and K. Oh, “Q-switching of Yb3+-doped fiber laser using a novel micro-optical waveguide on microactuating platform light modulator,” Opt. Express 13, 10302–10309 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
D. Sabourdy, D. Bouyge, A. Crunteanu, P. Blondy, V. Couderc, J. Lhermite, V. Kermène, A. Desfarges-Berthelemot, L. Grossard, A. Barthélemy, M. Somekh, and D. Pureur, “Novel active Q-switched fiber laser based on electrostatically actuated micro-mirror system,” Opt. Express 14, 3917–3922 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. Photo-elastic modulators
2.1 The classic photo-elastic modulator
2.2 A single crystal photo-elastic modulator
3. A SCPEM in a laser cavity
F. Bammer, B. Holzinger, and T. Schumi, “Time multiplexing of high power laser diodes with single crystal photo-elastic modulators,” Opt. Express 14, 3324–3332 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. Experimental results
5. Results and discussion
J. Dörring, A. Killi, U. Morgner, A. Lang, M. Lederer, and D. Kopf, “Period doubling and deterministic chaos in continuously pumped regenerative amplifiers,” Opt. Express 12, 1759–1768 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References and links
L. A. Zenteno, H. Po, and N. M. Cho, “All-solid-state passively Q-switched mode-locked Nd-doped fiber laser,” Opt. Lett. 15, 115–117 (1990). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
V. N. Philippov, A. V. Kiryanov, and S. Unger, “Advanced configuration of erbium fiber passively Q-switched laser with Co:ZnSe crystal as saturable absorber,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett., 16, 57–59 (2004). [CrossRef] | |
M. Laroche, A. M. Chardon, J. Nilsson, D. P. Shepherd, W. A. Clarkson, S. Girard, and R. Moncorge, “Compact diode-pumped passively Q-switched tunable Er-Yb double-clad fiber laser,” Opt. Lett. 27, 1980–1982 (2002). [CrossRef] | |
L. Luo and P. L. Chu, “Passive Q-switched erbium-doped fibre laser with saturable absorber,” Opt. Commun. 161, 257–263 (1999). [CrossRef] | |
R. Paschotta, R. Hring, E. Gini, H. Melchior, U. Keller, H. L. Ferhaus, and D. J. Richardson, “Passively Q-switched 0.1-mJ fiber laser system at 1.53 mm,” Opt. Lett. 24, 388–390 (1999). [CrossRef] | |
A. F. El-Sherif and T. A. King, “High energy, high brightness Q-switched Tm3+-doped fibre laser using an electro-optic modulator,” Opt. Commun. 218, 337–344 (2003). [CrossRef] | |
M. Delgado-Pinar, D. Zalvidea, A. Diez, P. Perez-Millan, and M. Andres, “Q-switching of an all-fiber laser by acousto-optic modulation of a fiber Bragg grating,” Opt. Express 14, 1106–1112 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
D. D. Zalvidea, N. A. Russo, R. Duchowicz, M. Delgado-Pinar, A. Dýez, J. L. Cruz, and M. V. Andres, “High-repetition rate acoustic-induced Q-switched all-fiber laser,” Opt. Commun. 244, 315–319 (2005). [CrossRef] | |
P. Pérez-Millán, A. Díez, M. Andrés, D. Zalvidea, and R. Duchowicz, “Q-switched all-fiber laser based on magnetostriction modulation of a Bragg grating,” Opt. Express 13, 5046–5051 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
Y. Joeng, Y. Kim, A. Liem, K. Moerl, S. Hoefer, A. Tuennermann, and K. Oh, “Q-switching of Yb3+-doped fiber laser using a novel micro-optical waveguide on microactuating platform light modulator,” Opt. Express 13, 10302–10309 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
D. Sabourdy, D. Bouyge, A. Crunteanu, P. Blondy, V. Couderc, J. Lhermite, V. Kermène, A. Desfarges-Berthelemot, L. Grossard, A. Barthélemy, M. Somekh, and D. Pureur, “Novel active Q-switched fiber laser based on electrostatically actuated micro-mirror system,” Opt. Express 14, 3917–3922 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
J. C. Kemp, Piezo-Optical Birefringence Modulators: new use for a long-known effect, J. Opt. Soc. Am. 59, 950–955 (1969). | |
J. F. Nye, Physical Properties of Crystals , (Oxford Science Publication, 1984), Chap. 14 | |
K. Wong, Properties of Lithium Niobate , (INSPEC, London, 2002), Chap. 8 | |
T. A. Maldonado, “Electro-optic modulators,” in Handbook of Optics, M. Bass, ed., (Mc Graw Hill, Orlando, 1995). | |
F. Bammer, B. Holzinger, and T. Schumi, “Time multiplexing of high power laser diodes with single crystal photo-elastic modulators,” Opt. Express 14, 3324–3332 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
J. Dörring, A. Killi, U. Morgner, A. Lang, M. Lederer, and D. Kopf, “Period doubling and deterministic chaos in continuously pumped regenerative amplifiers,” Opt. Express 12, 1759–1768 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed] |
OCIS Codes
(140.3510) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, fiber
(140.3540) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, Q-switched
(230.4110) Optical devices : Modulators
ToC Category:
Lasers and Laser Optics
History
Original Manuscript: March 21, 2007
Revised Manuscript: April 25, 2007
Manuscript Accepted: April 29, 2007
Published: May 3, 2007
Citation
Ferdinand Bammer and Rok Petkovsek, "Q-switching of a fiber laser with a single crystal photo-elastic modulator," Opt. Express 15, 6177-6182 (2007)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-15-10-6177
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References
- L. A. Zenteno and H. Po, and N. M. Cho, "All-solid-state passively Q-switched mode-locked Nd-doped fiber laser," Opt. Lett. 15, 115-117 (1990). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- V. N. Philippov, A. V. Kiryanov, and S. Unger, "Advanced configuration of erbium fiber passively Q-switched laser with Co:ZnSe crystal as saturable absorber," IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 16, 57-59 (2004). [CrossRef]
- M. Laroche, A. M. Chardon, J. Nilsson, D. P. Shepherd, W. A. Clarkson, S. Girard, and R. Moncorge, "Compact diode-pumped passively Q-switched tunable Er-Yb double-clad fiber laser," Opt. Lett. 27, 1980-1982 (2002). [CrossRef]
- L. Luo and P. L. Chu, "Passive Q-switched erbium-doped fibre laser with saturable absorber," Opt. Commun. 161, 257-263 (1999). [CrossRef]
- R. Paschotta, R. Hring, E. Gini, H. Melchior, U. Keller, H. L. Ferhaus, and D. J. Richardson, "Passively Q-switched 0.1-mJ fiber laser system at 1.53 mm," Opt. Lett. 24, 388-390 (1999). [CrossRef]
- A. F. El-Sherif and T. A. King, "High energy, high brightness Q-switched Tm3+-doped fibre laser using an electro-optic modulator," Opt. Commun. 218, 337-344 (2003). [CrossRef]
- M. Delgado-Pinar, D. Zalvidea, A. Diez, P. Perez-Millan, and M. Andres, "Q-switching of an all-fiber laser by acousto-optic modulation of a fiber Bragg grating," Opt. Express 14, 1106-1112 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- D. D. Zalvidea, N. A. Russo, R. Duchowicz, M. Delgado-Pinar, A. Dýez, J. L. Cruz, and M. V. Andres,"High-repetition rate acoustic-induced Q-switched all-fiber laser," Opt. Commun. 244, 315-319 (2005). [CrossRef]
- P. Pérez-Millán, A. Díez, M. Andrés, D. Zalvidea, and R. Duchowicz, "Q-switched all-fiber laser based on magnetostriction modulation of a Bragg grating," Opt. Express 13, 5046-5051 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Y. Joeng, Y. Kim, A. Liem, K. Moerl, S. Hoefer, A. Tuennermann, and K. Oh, "Q-switching of Yb3+-doped fiber laser using a novel micro-optical waveguide on microactuating platform light modulator," Opt. Express 13, 10302-10309 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- D. Sabourdy, D. Bouyge, A. Crunteanu, P. Blondy, V. Couderc, J. Lhermite, V. Kermène, A. Desfarges-Berthelemot, L. Grossard, A. Barthélemy, M. Somekh, and D. Pureur, "Novel active Q-switched fiber laser based on electrostatically actuated micro-mirror system," Opt. Express 14, 3917-3922 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- J. C. Kemp, Piezo-Optical Birefringence Modulators: new use for a long-known effect, J. Opt. Soc. Am. 59, 950- 955 (1969).
- www.hindsinstruments.com
- J. F. Nye, Physical Properties of Crystals, (Oxford Science Publication, 1984), Chap. 14
- K. Wong, Properties of Lithium Niobate, (INSPEC, London, 2002), Chap. 8
- T. A. Maldonado, "Electro-optic modulators," in Handbook of Optics, M. Bass, ed., (Mc Graw Hill, Orlando, 1995).
- F. Bammer, B. Holzinger, and T. Schumi, "Time multiplexing of high power laser diodes with single crystal photo-elastic modulators," Opt. Express 14, 3324-3332 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- J. Dörring, A. Killi, U. Morgner, A. Lang, M. Lederer, and D. Kopf, "Period doubling and deterministic chaos in continuously pumped regenerative amplifiers," Opt. Express 12, 1759-1768 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
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