Beam combining techniques have become an important tool in the design of high-power high-brightness laser systems. Spectral beam combining (SBC) is an incoherent combining technique that does not require phase control of sources, allowing for a stable and robust system. Using SBC, beams from an array of lasers with each element operated at a different wavelength are combined into a single near-diffraction-limited beam with the same aperture using dispersive optical elements. SBC by means of volume Bragg gratings (VBGs) utilizes unique spectral response of VBGs: diffraction efficiency is close to unity when the Bragg condition is satisfied and is close to zero at multiple points corresponding to particular wavelength offsets from Bragg condition. High-efficiency VBGs can be recorded in UV-sensitive photo-thermo-refractive (PTR) glass. Narrow-band reflecting VBGs allow multi-channel SBC with high spectral density of channels. In this dissertation, experimental results of SBC with high spectral density of combined channels in two spectral regions of interest (1064 and 1550 nm) are reported. The behavior of narrow-band VBGs under high-power laser radiation is investigated. A laser system with kW-level output power and near-diffraction-limited divergence of spectrally-combined output beam is demonstrated. The system combines five randomly-polarized Yb-doped fiber lasers with 0.5 nm spectral separation in central wavelengths using narrow-band reflecting VBGs with absolute efficiency of combining > 90%. A novel design of a multi-channel high-power SBC system is suggested. In this approach, a common-cavity is created for all channels such that wavelengths of the sources are passively controlled by the combination of a common output coupler and intra-cavity VBGs which also act as combining elements. Laser wavelengths are automatically selected to match resonant wavelengths of respective VBGs. We report successful demonstration of a passively-controlled SBC system consisting of two amplifiers in a common cavity configuration. A compact and rugged monolithic SBC module based on multiplexed VBGs is introduced. Experimental results of a four-channel implementation of such module are discussed. Modular design of high-power laser systems is suggested with multiple modules arranged in a series. We show that with basic combining parameters achieved up to date, laser systems with 10 kW output power can be constructed using this arrangement. Further scaling to 100 kW power level is discussed.

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Ce travail de thèse concerne le développement d’un laser à fibre générant des impulsions rectangulaires très énergétiques et accordables à l’échelle du temps et des impulsions géantes à haute énergie. En premier temps,nous avons développé un modèle numérique pour étudier la génération des impulsions rectangulaires dans un laser à fibre en forme de huit à double amplificateur.L’objectif est de montrer l’impact de l’effet non linéaire induit par la fibre micro structurée sur le contrôle de la durée d’impulsion rectangulaire générée par le laser. Un ensemble de paramètres laser nous a permis ainsi de générer des impulsions rectangulaires à haute énergie dans le régime de la résonance du soliton dissipatif (DSR). En plus, plusieurs expériences ont été mises en place pour optimiser la génération de l’impulsion DSR en termes d’énergie et de durée.Toujours sur le plan expérimental, des impulsions géantes à haute énergie à partir du laser à fibre verrouillé en phase couplé à un retard optique ont été obtenues. Cela nous a permis de générer une large plage de durée d’impulsion à l'échelle de μs à taux de répétition faible dans des cavités utilisant des absorbants saturables artificiels. / This work deals with the development of a fiber laser generating high energy and width tunable square pulses and high-energy giant pulses. First, we have developed a numerical model to study the generation of rectangular pulses in a double amplifier fiber laser. The objective is to study the impact of the non-linear effect induced by the microstructured optical fiber on the control of the square pulse duration. A set of laser parameters allowed us to generate high energy square pulses in the dissipative soliton resonance (DSR) regime. In addition, several experiments have been set up to optimize the generation of the DSR pulse in terms of energy and duration. Experimentally, high energy giant pulses from a passively mode-locked fiber ring laser coupled to a long external cavity are obtained. This allowed us to generate a wide range of pulse duration of μs at a low repetition rate in cavities using artificial saturable absorbers.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:37:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Henrique Guimaraes Rosa.pdf: 986364 bytes, checksum: 89d6b316a537ef2cd3088d9200fd7183 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-08-06 / In this work we present a study about ultrashort pulse-train generation in Erbiumdoped fiber lasers, by the passive mode-locking technique, with the use of carbon nanotubes saturable absorbers. Carbon nanotubes were incorporated into laser cavities by two techniques: thermophoresis optically-driven deposition and thin films incorporating carbon nanotubes. The second technique has become more advantageous than the first one, because is possible to control carbon nanotubes concentration and thin films thicknesses. Additionally, we present a study about thin films incorporating carbon nanotubes optimization, in order to maximize generated output bandwidths in passively mode-locked Erbium-doped fiber lasers. We used 0.8 and 1.0 nm diameters carbon nanotubes, fabricated thin films with different transmission values (different αL product values), laser cavities with different features, such as total cavity length, total accumulated dispersion, repetition rate. In this context, best results were achieved with thin films containing 1.0 nm diameter carbon nanotubes, with films transmission about 37% (αL product close to 1.0), in 9 m long laser cavity (0.8 m of highly- Erbium-doped fiber and 8.2 m of SMF) of total accumulated dispersion of 0.153 ps/nm. The largest bandwidth measured, with those characteristics cavity parameters, was 5,7 nm. / Neste trabalho, apresentamos um estudo sobre a geração de trem de pulsos ultracurtos em lasers à fibra dopada com Érbio, utilizando a técnica de acoplamento passivo de modos com o uso de nanotubos de carbono como absorvedores saturáveis. Os nanotubos de carbono foram incorporados à cavidade laser através de duas técnicas: deposição guiada por termoforese e na forma de filmes finos contendo nanotubos de carbono, tendo a segunda técnica se mostrado mais vantajosa, pois por ela podemos ter controle sobre a concentração de nanotubos de carbono no filme e espessura do filme. Adicionalmente, apresentamos um estudo sobre a otimização da produção de filmes finos contendo nanotubos de carbono para maximização da largura de banda gerada em lasers à fibra dopada com Érbio. Utilizamos nanotubos de carbono de diâmetros de 0,8 nm e 1,0 nm, fabricamos filmes finos com transmitâncias diferentes (distintos valores para o produto αL), cavidades laser com diferentes características, tais como comprimento da cavidade, dispersão total acumulada, taxa de repetição. Neste contexto, os melhores resultados foram obtidos com filmes finos contendo nanotubos de carbono com 1,0 nm de diâmetro, em filmes cuja transmissão foi de 37% (produto αL aproximadamente 1,0), numa cavidade laser de aproximadamente 9 m de comprimento (basicamente composta de 80 cm de fibra altamente dopada com Érbio e 8,2 m de SMF), dispersão total acumulada da cavidade de aprox. 0,153 ps/nm. A maior largura de banda obtida, com estes característicos parâmetros da cavidade, foi de 5,7 nm.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:37:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Paulo Guilherme Komninos.pdf: 1970255 bytes, checksum: df0cedf278c145259aed73c5d3775f90 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-21 / This work presents a study based on the numerical analysis of Erbium-doped fiber lasers using the technique of passive mode-locking for the laser working in pulsed regime. The equation describing the dynamics of a laser cavity is known as Ginzburg-Landau Equation, that in this work is solved numerically by the Split-Step Fourier Method. By this method, an algorithm was developed which was incorporated into the MATLAB environment so taht numerical calculations were made. The method was validated by comparing the results generated by the program (temporal pulse width due to the gain of the cavity with and without dispersion and nonlinearity) with the results published in literature. After validation of the method an experimental results were reproduced of an Erbium-doped fiber laser using thin films of carbon nanotubes as saturable absorbers. The laser generates a bandwidth of 5.7 nm for a cavity with a total length of 9 m. This experimental result was used as a calibration parameter in the initial simulations. Just by varying the length of the cavity in the simulation, results very close to the experiment were obtained. These results have helped in understanding some of the experimental variables. / Neste trabalho é apresentado um estudo baseado em análise numérica de lasers à fibra dopada com Érbio utilizando a técnica de acoplamento passivo de modos para que o mesmo opere em regime pulsado. A equação que descreve a dinâmica de uma cavidade laser é conhecida como Equação de Ginzburg-Landau, que neste trabalho é resolvida numericamente pelo Método Split-Step Fourier. Por este método, foi desenvolvido um algoritmo que foi incorporado ao ambiente MATLAB para serem feitos os cálculos numéricos. O método foi validado comparando os resultados gerados pelo programa (largura temporal do pulso devido ao ganho da cavidade com e sem dispersão e não-linearidade) com os resultados publicados na literatura. Após a validação do método, foram reproduzidos resultados experimentais de um laser a fibra dopada com Érbio usando como absorvedor saturável filmes finos de nanotubos de carbono. O laser gera uma largura de banda de 5,7 nm para uma cavidade de comprimento total de 9 m. Este resultado experimental foi utilizado como parâmetro de calibração inicial nas simulações. Apenas variando o comprimento da cavidade na simulação, foram obtidos resultados bem próximos ao do experimento. Esses resultados ajudaram na compreensão de algumas variáveis do experimento.

Dans cette thèse, nous étudions expérimentalement la génération d'impulsions carrées très énergétiques et accordable à l’échelle nanosecondes et d'impulsions ultracourtes à haute puissance moyenne de sortie dans les lasers à fibre utilisant les nanomatériaux comme absorbant saturable. Tout d'abord, puisque la dynamique des impulsions est dominée par l'interaction de la non linéarité et de la dispersion chromatique cubique de la fibre avec un mécanisme de discrimination d'intensité appelé absorbant saturable, la stabilité d'une distribution harmonique en mode verrouillé est étudiée par injection externe d'une onde continue.Enfin, nous avons utilisés des absorbant saturable à base de nanomatériaux déposés sur des tapers optiques dans les lasers à fibre pour générer des impulsions ultracourtes avec une puissance de sortie moyenne élevée. / In this thesis, we investigate experimentally the generation of high energy nanosecond tunable square pulses and high output power ultrashort pulses in fiber lasers. First, since pulse dynamics are dominated by the interaction of the fiber's cubic Kerr nonlinearity and chromatic dispersion with an intensity-discriminating mechanism referred to as a saturable absorber, the stability of a harmonic mode-locked distribution is studied by external injection of a continuous wave. Finally, we implemented nanomaterial based saturable absorbers in fiber laser configuration to generate ultrashort pulses with high average output power. Different techniques of achieving such components are explicitly detailed: ultrashort pulse generation in ring cavities where graphene and topological insulators are deposited on optical tapers to form a saturable absorber.

Les lasers à fibre de haute puissance constituent depuis une dizaine d’année un outil pertinent pour un nombre croissant d’applications. Dans le cadre d’un contrat CIFRE entre la société Eolite Systems et le laboratoire Xlim (UMR 7252 du CNRS et de l’Université de Limoges), mon projet de thèse a consisté à développer les briques technologiques de futures sources lasers / High-power fiber lasers adress an increasing number of applications since ten years. In the frame of a CIFRE contract between the company Eolite Systems and Xlim (joint laboratory between CNRS and the University of Limoges), the goal of this PhD project was to develop the technological blocs to achieve all-fibre high-power lasers emiting out of the conventional spectral band covered by existing lasers.Modal instabilities in large mode area (LMA) fibers are currently the main limitation of the fiber lasers power scaling. We have experimentally demonstrated the relevance of inner cladding aperiodic structures to efficiently delocalize higher order modes outside the gain region. A systematic study of passive fibers based on such structures has shown the single propagation of the fundamental mode over a wide wavelength range from 1 to 2 µm for dimension of core up to 85 µm. This effective mode delocalization even extends up to a core dimension of 140 µm at a 2 µm wavelength.The combination of high power picosecond fiber laser with an average power of 22.7 W and a hydrogen-filled inhibited coupling Kagome fiber allowed us to generate two Raman combs over five frequency octaves from 321 nm to 12.5 µm. These two combs are controlled by the laser pump polarization and generated an average power of 10.1 W displayed over 70 laser lines for circular pump polarization and 8.6 W over 30 lines for linear polarization. Some laser lines within these combs have been generated for the first time from high-power fiber source in the mid-infrared range. We have also demonstrated the generation of high-power line by optimizing the first vibrational Stokes at 1.8 µm with an average power of 9.3 W and a quantum efficiency of the frequency conversion stage close to 80%.

[pt] Nessa tese é analisada a dinâmica dos modos de lasers aleatórios à fibra com feedback distribuído. Um rigoroso estudo é feito sobre o mecanismo de feedback distribuído, i.e., o espalhamento Rayleigh, que é um dos principais elementos contribuindo para emissão laser. É desenvolvido um modelo teórico para previsão do retro espalhamento Rayleigh de luz coerente, o qual é baseado na ordem de médio alcance da sílica, e na tensão residual de fibras ópticas. As previsões do modelo são comparadas com resultados experimentais, levando a conclusão de que o retro espalhamento Rayleigh em fibras ópticas é um processo ergódigo nos domínios do tempo e da frequência óptica. O modelo mostrou-se eficaz na previsão das flutuações de intensidade do retro espalhamento Rayleigh de luz coerente, e foi utilizado para explicar a emissão de luz laser numa nova configuração de laser aleatório à fibra, que faz uso de um amplificador óptico a semicondutor (SOA) como meio de ganho. É demostrado que operação monomodo só é possível em emissão pulsada e com bombeio próximo ao limiar laser, enquanto operação multimodo é dominante para bombeio acima do limiar. Resultados experimentais indicam que potência dos modos é limitada pela competição entre modos por ganho. A operação em regime pulsado é atribuída a um efeito de cintilação da luz Rayleigh retro espalhada, que equivale a um fenômeno de chaveamento de perdas (Q-switching) aleatório na cavidade. O tempo de vida dos modos é ~ 1 ms e larguras de linha estreitas, no intervalo entre 4 e 7 kHz, foram obtidas experimentalmente. Lasers aleatórios à fibra com ganho Brillouin também foram analisados, mostrando semelhante dinâmica dos modos. Entretanto, por conta da estreita banda espectral do ganho Brillouin a competição entre modos não limitou a potência dos modos, a qual foi observada ser limitada por luz Stokes proveniente do espalhamento Brillouin de segunda ordem. Por último, experimentos com modulação de fase intra-cavidade foram avaliados, e mostraram que emissão laser pode ser controlada a partir da supressão da condição de fase ou ganho. / [en] In this thesis, it is provided a thorough analysis of mode dynamics of random distributed feedback fiber lasers. A rigorous investigation is proposed for the feedback mechanism, Rayleigh backscattering, which plays a key role in laser action. Based on the intermediate range order of silica glasses, and on residual stress of optical fibers, a theoretical model was built to predict intensity fluctuations of Rayleigh backscattered coherent light. Model predictions were compared to experimental results, strongly supporting the conclusion that Rayleigh backscattering in single mode fibers is an ergodic process exhibiting ergodicity in the time-frequency sense so that the model can be used to predict the statistical behavior of backscattered intensity fading. The model was used to explain laser action in a novel configuration of random fiber laser, with a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) employed as the gain medium. It is here demonstrated that single-mode operation is only possible in pulsed regime at SOA driving currents close to the threshold, whereas multimode regime dominates under higher currents. Experimental results indicate that the mode power is limited by mode competition, which is observed under high SOA currents. Pulsed regime is shown to be due to randomly driven Q-switching induced by a scintillation effect in the Rayleigh backscattered light, which effectively translates as a time-varying cavity loss. Mode lifetimes of ∼1 ms and narrow linewidths ranging from 4 to 7 kHz were experimentally obtained. Brillouin-based random fiber lasers were also analyzed, showing similar mode dynamics, but due to the much narrower gain spectral width, mode competition did not limit the mode power, which was rather limited by the second order Brillouin-Stokes light. Last, intra-cavity phase-modulation experiments showed that laser action can be efficiently controlled by breaking either phase or gain conditions.