High power mid-infrared fiber amplifier at 3.1 µm by acetylene-filled hollow-core fibers

Abstract

We characterized high-power continuous-wave (CW) and pulsed mid-infrared (mid-IR) fiber amplifiers at a wavelength of 3.1 µm in acetylene-filled hollow-core fibers (HCFs) with a homemade seed laser. A maximum CW power of 7.9 W was achieved in a 4.2-m HCF filled with 4-mbar acetylene, which was 11% higher than the power without the seed. The maximum average power of the pulsed laser was 8.6 W (pulse energy of 0.86 µJ) at 7-mbar acetylene pressure, a 16% increase over the power without the seed. To the best of our knowledge, backward characteristics are reported for the first time for fiber gas lasers, and the backward power accounted for less than 5% of the forward power. The optimum acetylene pressure and HCF length for the highest mid-IR output are discussed based on theoretical simulations. This study provides significant guidance for high-power mid-infrared (mid-IR) output in gas-filled HCFs.