Use this URL to cite or link to this record in EThOS: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.427356
Title: Fabrication of novel geometry fibre lasers for high power applications
Author: Cooper, Laurence James
ISNI:       0000 0001 3562 3150
Awarding Body: University of Southampton
Current Institution: University of Southampton
Date of Award: 2005
Availability of Full Text:
Access from EThOS:
Access from Institution:
Abstract:
This thesis details my work on the development of fabrication techniques for high power doped fibre lasers, using novel fibre geometries, and their demonstration. The main methods for increasing output power were using helical cores, multiple cores and large cores. A method for fabricating helical core fibres was proposed and implemented. Core and cladding pumped devices were successfully constructed, and were then tested in collaboration. A cladding pumped helical core fibre laser improved the beam from a 30μm core from an M2 of 3.3 to < 1.4, with a maximum output power of 64W and slope efficiency of 84%. A ribbon fibre with multiple laser emitting cores was fabricated. The difficulties in the fabri- cation of such a fibre required extensive research, and arise from the large aspect ratio of the preform and fibre, and the low size reduction during fibre drawing. Through many steps a ten core ribbon fibre was fabricated, which was used, in collaboration, to achieve an output laser power of 250W, with a slope efficiency of 65%. Using a spectral beam combination technique, 5 cores were locked together. The output from a number of cores within a circular fibre with no combination is a method for attaining stable high powers with moderate beam quality. A three core fibre was fabricated, and showed an M2 of 5 and slope efficiency of 75%. This fibre was then tapered down from 150μm in order to improve the beam quality further, and for 125μm and 100μm tapers, the M2 values measured were improved to 4.3 and 3.5, respectively. An Yb-doped rod was fabricated, with a large core of 140μm diameter, and machined flats to break the cladding symmetry. The power attained was only 13.4W with a slope efficiency of 20%, due to surface imperfections. A fibre created with altered fabrication techniques showed no surface defects and showed over 90% transmission for 800nm light. Experiments performed by a colleague showed a slope efficiency of 69% and an M2 of 11, indicating that the fabrication method could create an effective cladding pumped rod laser.
Supervisor: Not available Sponsor: Not available
Qualification Name: Thesis (Ph.D.) Qualification Level: Doctoral
EThOS ID: uk.bl.ethos.427356  DOI: Not available
Keywords: TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering ; QC Physics
Share: