Influence of a feedback coupling on operating characteristics of a Cr3+:LiSrAlF6 laser using an end-coupled fiber grating

Abstract.

We describe a comparative study related to an influence of a feedback coupling on operating characteristics of a cw Cr³⁺:LiSrAlF₆ (Cr³⁺:LiSAF) laser using an end-coupled fiber grating with different coupling configurations. To achieve a compact construction, a direct butt-coupling of the fiber grating at the pump end of the Cr³⁺:LiSAF laser and pumping through the same fiber was considered. The feedback provided by the coupled fiber grating through an end mirror was responsible for a spectrally narrowed output with a slope efficiency of 11%. However, the performance critically depended on an amount of the feedback coupling. The feedback-coupling condition was improved considerably by using a lens-coupled fiber grating at the pump end of the Cr³⁺:LiSAF crystal. A spectrally narrowed output of ≈0.15 cm^-1 was obtained, and the output slope efficiency was measured as 27%. Theoretical modeling was also performed to understand the effect of the feedback coupling and the results agreed well with the experimental observations.