Gratings for Yb-Doped Fiber Lasers

High-power fiber lasers and amplifiers are emerging as viable alternatives to traditional solid-state and gas laser systems for many military and industrial applications. The advantages of high-power optical fiber sources are numerous: extremely highdamage thresholds, excellent beam quality, superior wavelength and temperature stability, small size, and very high powers using novel double-cladding fiber geometry's. Another advantage of using optical fiber as the lasing medium is the unique ability tofabricate mode conversion gratings directly within the fiber for manipulation of both the signal and pump light. During Phase I, Lambda Instruments successfully investigated the feasibility of employing novel fiber gratings within future kilowatt-classfiber laser systems. Based on the successful feasibility studies demonstrated during Phase I, Lambda proposes to fully develop and optimize advanced fiber gratings during Phase II. To assist in advanced development and design optimization of fibergratings, Lambda has assembled a highly experienced team. The development team has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of advanced grating technology during Phase I, and now proposes to finalize the development of grating components for high-powerfiber laser applications during Phase II, and work with industry partners to commercialize advanced fiber laser and amplifier systems during Phase III.