Yb-Bi pulsed fiber lasers

A new type of pulsed fiber laser is suggested and developed-Yb-Bi lasers. In such lasers the Yb fiber laser is Q-switched by use of a saturable absorber, a Bi-doped fiber placed in its own resonator, and pulsed lasing is obtained in both fiber lasers. Continous-wave diode-clad pumping of the Yb-Bi lasers at a 975 nm wavelength with power up to 16.5 W results in pulsed laser action in a spectral diapason of 1050-1200 ran with a maximum pulse energy of up to 100 mu J, an average power up to 7.5 W, and a repetition rate up to 100 kHz. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.