Wavelength-Tuning of Nanosecond Pulses in Er-Doped Fluoride Fibre Amplifier

Abstract

We investigate the gain bandwidth and wavelength-tuning range of an erbium-doped fluoride fibre amplifier. The presented experimental setup consisted of a widely wavelength-tunable optical parametric oscillator (OPO), which was amplified in a single-stage Er-doped fluoride fibre amplifier. The OPO laser provided seed pulses with a pulse width of 5.2 ns and a repetition rate of 10 kHz. The fibre section consisted of 2.2 m of double-clad, single-mode fibre with a doping concentration of 7 mol%. Wavelength-tuning was analysed at gain values of up to 26 dB and amplified pulse energies of up to 37.4 $\mu \mathrm{J}$. Using this setup, we demonstrate continuous wavelength tuning of more than 100 nm, covering the wavelength range from 2712 nm to 2818 nm.

Keywords

• Fibre laser
• Nanosecond
• Erbium
• Mid-infrared
• ZBLAN
• Fluoride fibre