High-Power Linear-Polarized Narrow Linewidth Photonic Crystal Fiber Amplifier

We report on the high power amplification of narrow linewidth laser radiation with close to diffraction limited beam quality using a large mode area photonic crystal fiber amplifier. The observation of threshold-like higher order mode amplification by transverse spatial-hole burning at the highest power level is reported. The measured M(2) stays below 1.3 but increases at the critical power level, where the fundamental mode turns into the next higher order mode. At the maximum power of 1.2 kW a linewidth of <80 pm limited by self-phase modulation is obtained.