Improving the power handling capabilities of laser-machined, microstructured cladding light strippers through homogeneous stripping

authored by: Nils Haverland, Finn Salhoff, Fabian Kranert, Jörg Neumann, Dietmar Kracht
Abstract: Cladding light strippers (CLS) are essential components of fiber lasers and amplifiers to remove residual cladding light within the system. However, inhomogeneous stripping in high-power applications leads to temperature spikes in the housing and could result in a failure of the entire setup. Here, we present simulations of both, a CLS structure optimized for homogeneous stripping and additional design changes enabling cladding light attenuation up to 47dB. We verified our findings by manufacturing the simulated structures using CO2 laser-machining and evaluated them regarding cladding light attenuation, stripping homogeneity, and signal light disturbance. The results are a crucial step to further push the high-power capabilities of fiber-based laser and amplifier systems.
Organisation(s): QuantumFrontiers
External Organisation(s): Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH)
Type: Conference contribution
No. of pages: 4
Publication date: 29.05.2025
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Condensed Matter Physics, Computer Science Applications, Applied Mathematics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3054042 (Access: Closed)

BibTeX

@inproceedings{20b00f5883af4d34839eb72fc26619d1,
title = "Improving the power handling capabilities of laser-machined, microstructured cladding light strippers through homogeneous stripping",
abstract = "Cladding light strippers (CLS) are essential components of fiber lasers and amplifiers to remove residual cladding light within the system. However, inhomogeneous stripping in high-power applications leads to temperature spikes in the housing and could result in a failure of the entire setup. Here, we present simulations of both, a CLS structure optimized for homogeneous stripping and additional design changes enabling cladding light attenuation up to 47dB. We verified our findings by manufacturing the simulated structures using CO2 laser-machining and evaluated them regarding cladding light attenuation, stripping homogeneity, and signal light disturbance. The results are a crucial step to further push the high-power capabilities of fiber-based laser and amplifier systems.",
keywords = "Cladding light stripper, CO2 laser-machining, Fiber components, Fiber-based laser systems, laser micromachining",
author = "Nils Haverland and Finn Salhoff and Fabian Kranert and J{\"o}rg Neumann and Dietmar Kracht",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 SPIE.; 8th International Workshop on Specialty Optical Fibers and Their Applications, WSOF 2025 ; Conference date: 07-04-2025 Through 10-04-2025",
year = "2025",
month = may,
day = "29",
doi = "10.1117/12.3054042",
language = "English",
series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",
publisher = "SPIE",
editor = "Pavel Peterka and Kyriacos Kalli and John Ballato and Alexis Mendez",
booktitle = "Eighth International Workshop on Specialty Optical Fibers and Their Applications",
address = "United States",
}