High-power wavelength-tunable cladding-pumped rare-earth-doped silica fiber lasers

We describe the design and performance of cladding-pumped silica fiber lasers with high continuous-wave output powers and broad wavelength tunability in the 1, 1.5, and 2 mum spectral ranges. An ytterbium-doped fiber laser was tuned via wavelength dependent feedback provided by an external cavity containing a diffraction grating from 1027 to 1105 nm at multi-watt power levels. Similarly, high output power and wide wavelength tunability from 1540 to 1600 nm and from 1860 to 2090 nm at multi-watt output power levels has been achieved in Er-Yb co-doped and Tm-dopcd silica fiber lasers, respectively A neodymium doped fiber laser was tuned from 1057 to 1118 nm at a lower power level. Limiting factors and the prospects for further improvements in performance are considered. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.