Single-frequency 45-mJ pulses from a MOPA system using an Er,Yb:glass planar waveguide amplifier and a large mode area Er-doped fiber amplifier

Abstract

We demonstrate a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) system that emits single-frequency high-energy optical pulses at 1540 nm using an Er,Yb:glass planar waveguide amplifier and a large mode area Er-doped fiber amplifier. A double under-cladding and a 50-µm-thick core structure are employed for the planar waveguide amplifier to increase the output energy without degrading the beam quality. A pulse energy of 45.2 mJ with a peak power of 27 kW is generated at a pulse repetition rate of 150 Hz with a pulse duration of 1.7 µs. Moreover, the beam quality factor M² of the output beam is 1.84 at the highest pulse energy thanks to its waveguide structure.