Optical Fiber amplifies pulses from 1 µm lasers.
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Press Release Summary:
Designed for amplification of pulses with durations ranging from nanoseconds to femtoseconds, Model Yb1200-20/125DC-PM ytterbium-doped optical fiber is used in materials processing and laser ranging applications. Polarization maintaining fiber features highly doped, 20 µm dia core and 125 µm cladding dia. Cladding pump absorption of 7.1 dB/m at 920 nm that rises to 30 dB/m for absorption near peak at around 976 nm enables use of short active fiber lengths.
Original Press Release:
Liekki Introduces Optimized Polarization Maintaining Fiber for High-Energy Amplification
LOHJA, August 15, 2006 - Liekki, the leading supplier of highly doped optical fibers, has developed an ideal polarization maintaining fiber for amplifying pulses from 1 µm lasers.
Liekki expands its broad, ytterbium-doped fiber product family with a highly doped, large mode area fiber with very high cladding absorption (Yb1200-20/125DC-PM). Typical applications of this fiber are materials processing (cutting, marking, drilling), laser ranging, remote chemical detection, and nonlinear frequency conversion for access to wavelengths from the infrared to the ultraviolet. These applications require pulsed amplifiers with mJ output energies, diffraction-limited beam quality and single polarizations, specifications that have previously been unattainable with fiber-based laser systems. Development of a fiber with a large mode area and short active fiber length provided the breakthrough required to minimize nonlinear effects, the key limitation on the achievable output energy from conventional fiber amplifiers. "Overcoming this limitation will substantially increase the range of applications that can be addressed by fiber lasers," says Mr. Mikko Söderlund, Product Manager of Liekki's fiber products.
"This highly doped ytterbium fiber with its extremely high pump absorption, high power conversion efficiency, polarization preservation and large mode area is excellent for amplification of pulses with durations ranging from nanoseconds to femtoseconds. Such high-power pulses are typically used in material processing and micromachining", continues Mr. Söderlund. The Yb1200-20/125DC-PM fiber features a unique combination of a highly doped, 20 µm diameter core and a large core-to-cladding ratio. These features result in a nominal cladding pump absorption of 7.1dB/m at 920nm rising to as much as 30dB/m for absorption near the peak at around 976nm, enabling use of very short active fiber lengths (less than a meter for 976nm pumping). Applications using this fiber benefit from high extractable energy and excellent beam quality. The use of standard 125 µm cladding diameter is another advantage, broadening the fiber's usability, for example, with standard telecom fiber stripping, splicing, and connectorization equipment.
Liekki supplies a passive fiber matched to the active ytterbium fiber, so that excellent beam quality is maintained throughout the monolithic fiber laser or amplifier assembly. Combiners, such as 6+1/1 based on tapered fiber bundle technology, and endcaps are also available through Liekki. "This approach is part of our mission to provide complete solutions to our customers", concludes Mr. William Willson, Liekki's Vice President Marketing and Sales.
About Liekki Corporation
Liekki designs, manufactures and markets specialty optical fibers and fiber subassemblies (optical engines) for fiber amplifiers and lasers using its unique and proprietary Direct Nanoparticle Deposition (DND) technology. DND makes it possible to produce state-of-the-art highly doped fibers that minimize required fiber length, have large core-to-clad ratios, and exhibit low photodarkening, flat refractive index profile, high efficiency and reduced nonlinear effects. Liekki fibers also have very good usability in terms of splicing properties, temperature and bending characteristics. Liekki products are used in applications such as high power fiber lasers for industrial manufacturing and processing, military and aerospace, medical and scientific, and telecom sectors.
Direct Nanoparticle Deposition (DND) is a new, innovative nanoparticle process invented, developed and commercialized by Liekki, for a wide range of industrial applications. Liekki has licensed DND to industrial customers for non-optical applications and will continue to do so.
Liekki is headquartered in Lohja, Finland. Liekki products are available globally through Thorlabs (www.thorlabs.com). Liekki direct sales serves North America, Europe and Asia, supported by our representatives FT Okura (Japan), IKG Corporation (Japan), Apollo Electronics Co. Ltd. (China), and Connet Fiber Optics Co., Ltd. (China). For further information, please visit our website at www.liekki.com.
For more information, please contact:
Liekki
Mr. William Willson,
Vice President Marketing and Sales,
tel. +1 301 706 0315,
email william.willson@liekki.com
Ms. Minna Salander,
Marketing and PR,
tel. +358 19 357 391,
email minna.salander@liekki.com
