Predicting the performance data for a fiber laser by measuring the emitted fluorescence power of the end-on pumped fiber

A novel method is described that enables the prediction of the main laser parameters (threshold pump power, output power, slope- and extraction efficiency) without having realized the laser itself: The emitted fluorescence power of an end-on pumped fiber is absolutely measured along the fiber Using specific material parameters of the doped glass and the waveguide attenuation, we calculate the laser properties without taking the resonator losses into account. This approach is extremely useful for fibers with special design parameters. We have used this method to characterize a fiber with a novel design, the M-profile fiber Combining the results with the measurements on the realized laser, the impact of resonator losses (e.g, tilted fiber endfaces, effects of butt-coupled mirrors) can be inferred and improvements can be undertaken.