Simultaneous Raman based Power Combining and Wavelength Conversion of High-power Fiber Lasers

TL;DR

This paper introduces a Raman-based technique for simultaneously combining power and converting wavelength of multiple fiber lasers, achieving high efficiency and power levels in new wavelength bands.

Contribution

It demonstrates a novel method for simultaneous power combining and wavelength conversion of fiber lasers using Raman nonlinear processes, enabling power scaling in previously limited wavelength bands.

Findings

Achieved up to 99W output power at 1.5 microns.

Converted >85% of output power to the target wavelength.

Demonstrated ~64% quantum efficiency in power conversion.

Abstract

We present a technique for simultaneous power-combining and wavelength-conversion of multiple fiber lasers into a single, lower wavelength in a different band through Raman-based, nonlinear power combining. We illustrate this by power combining of two independent Ytterbium lasers into a single wavelength around 1.5micron with high output powers of upto 99W. A high conversion efficiency of ~64% of the quantum limited efficiency and a high level of wavelength conversion with >85% of the output power in the final wavelength is demonstrated. The proposed method enables power-scaling in various wavelength bands where conventional fiber lasers are unavailable or limited in power.