Integrated disruptive components for 2µm fibre lasers (ISLA): project overview and passive component development

Abstract

In this paper, an overview of the EU FP7 project ISLA (Integrated disruptive componentS for 2 μm fibre Lasers) is given. The aim of ISLA was to develop a set of “building block” components and a “tool-kit” of processes to define an integrated modular common platform for two micron fibre lasers consisting of compatible and self-consistent active and passive fibres, fused fibre couplers and combiners, fibre-coupled isolators, modulators and high power pump laser diodes. We also present results from our work on developing passive components for 2 μm fibre lasers. This includes high power pump combiners that have been tested up to 0.5 kW and combiners for in-band pumping of holmium lasers. Couplers for use as splitters, power monitors and wavelength division multiplexers have also been demonstrated. Wideband couplers, with a coupling ratio that only varies ± 12% over 400 nm, have also been developed to exploit the wide tuning range possible with thulium fibre lasers. Research into different isolator materials was also conducted to find materials with large Verdet constants to be used in 2 μm isolators. Fibre-coupled isolators were then manufactured using a selection of these materials. Isolators that had insertion losses of < 1 dB and isolation of > 35 dB were demonstrated using PM and non-PM fibres. In the PM isolators, PER > 23 dB was achieved.