A High Efficiency Architecture for Cascaded Raman Fiber Lasers

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel high-efficiency cascaded Raman fiber laser architecture using a single pass amplifier and multi-wavelength seeding, achieving record power and efficiency levels.

Contribution

The work presents a new architecture that significantly improves power and efficiency in cascaded Raman fiber lasers through innovative seeding and configuration.

Findings

Maximum output power of 204W at 1480nm

Conversion efficiency of 65% (quantum-limited ~75%)

Reported highest power and efficiency for cascaded Raman fiber lasers

Abstract

We demonstrate a new high efficiency architecture for cascaded Raman fiber lasers based on a single pass cascaded amplifier configuration. Conversion is seeded at all intermediate Stokes wavelengths using a multi-wavelength seed source. A lower power Raman laser based on the conventional cascaded Raman resonator architecture provides a convenient seed source providing all the necessary wavelengths simultaneously. In this work we demonstrate a 1480nm laser pumped by an 1117nm Yb-doped fiber laser with maximum output power of 204W and conversion efficiency of 65% (quantum-limited efficiency is ~75%). We believe both the output power and conversion efficiency (relative to quantum-limited efficiency) are the highest reported for cascaded Raman fiber lasers.