A robust all-fiber active Q-switched 1-µm Yb³⁺ fiber laser

An all-fiber active Q-switched Yb³⁺-doped fiber laser at 1 µm is presented. The laser is composed of a ring resonator with an embedded all-fiber Q-switch element, based on a null coupler with an attached piezoelectric transducer (PZT). The PZT is used as an acoustic actuator, for inducing longitudinal acoustic disturbance along the null coupler and causing light coupling between the null coupler’s ports. A stable operation is achieved with an overall average output power of up to 275 mW at various pulse repetition rates (PRR), ranging from 10 to 35 kHz and typical pulse energy of 15 μJ. In addition, a self-monitoring method is implemented by an embedded microcontroller, in order to maintain stable Q-switch performance, in changing environmental conditions. An average power of 8.5 W and pulse energy of 420 μJ at a PRR of 20 kHz are demonstrated in a master oscillator power amplifier containing the Q-switched laser, followed by a power amplifier.