Improved performances of photonic crystal fibers for high power laser operation

Abstract

In recent years fiber laser systems have shown a rapid evolution in terms of beam quality and power. High pulse energy and peak power require large effective area, so new photonic crystal fiber designs have been proposed. Thermo-optical effects can lead to transverse mode instability, a nonlinear effect that sets in at a threshold power level. The influence of thermal effects on fiber guiding properties is here investigated. Improved fiber designs are proposed.