Comprehensive Theoretical Study of Mode Instability in High-Power Fiber Lasers by Employing a Universal Model and Its Implications

Abstract

We present comprehensive theoretical study of mode instability with a universal model for the first time, which includes quantitative study on the various influence factors and mitigation methods. With large numerical results, the influence of various fiber and system parameters has been studied to summarize mitigation methods. The mode instability threshold behavior of multiwavelength pumping configurations has been studied for the first time, and the influence of pump wavelength shifting in the tandem pumping technique and amplitude modulation have also been given for the first time. The mitigation methods are discussed with review of the latest development in experimental results. The drawbacks and possible overcome measures are also discussed. By properly combining the mitigation methods, an approach to achieve beyond 10-kW diode pumped fiber laser with near diffraction limited beam quality has been proposed, which provides a creative way to overcome the mode instability limitation on diode pumped fiber lasers, and demonstrates the effectiveness of the mitigation methods.