High-energy Q-switched fiber laser based on the side-pumped active fiber

A relatively simple fiber-laser system that is based on a dual fiber, is pumped by a single CW source with an output power of 12 W (976 nm), and provides an output pulse energy of up to 110 mu J at a wavelength of 1080 nm is demonstrated for the first time. The output-pulse repetition rate and duration can be varied in the ranges 45-140 kHz and 0.28-1.80 mu s, respectively, with a variation in the pumping power. The maximum output power is 5 W. It is demonstrated that the generation instability observed at an output power of greater than 5 W gives rise to giant pulses that can induce the supercontinuum generation in the range 530-1750 nm in a relatively short microstructured fiber.