Ultra-short pulsed Tm-doped fiber laser systems

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The last several years have witnessed remarkable progress in high power fibre system technology as well as important break through in developing of optical saturable absorber materials in mid-IR for the intracavity passive modulation. Fiber pulsed systems based on master oscillator and fiber amplifier scheme with up to 3W average output power around 2 ?m spectral range have been demonstrated. Picoseconds and sub-picosecond scale pulses have also been obtained with use of SESAMs and carbon nanotube based a bsorbers. Mir-IR supercontinuum generation to 4.5 microns has been shown in fibers by pulsed laser pumping. Following these achievements, and based on feasibility studies we undertook in the field, we are putting forward a research project with firm commi tments targeted at the development of novel powerful mid-IR ultrashort pulse fibre sources and also Watt-level mid-IR supercontinuum fiber sources. The project's objectives are (1) development of a reliable ultra-short pulsed 1.8-2.2 µm master oscillator in all-fiber format with fiber dispersion management; (2) development of the powerful up to 10 W fiber amplifier for ultra-short pulse amplification around 2 microns mid-infrared spectral range; (3) design and demonstration of fiber based supercontinuum s ource covering spectrum from the near infrared to middle infrared, with average output powers up to 3W and spectral density up to 1mW/nm; (4) research and development of compact and robust all-fibre format power scalable sub-picosecond mid-IR sources for remote sensing, LIDAR,medical and scientific applications.