Characterization of the monolithic fiber amplifier engineering prototype for the next generation of gravitational wave detectors

authored by: Felix Wellmann, Michael Steinke, Fabian Thies, Nina Bode, Patrick Oppermann, Benno Willke, Ludger Overmeyer, Jörg Neumann, Dietmar Kracht
Abstract: Single-frequency Yb³⁺ fiber amplifiers operating at 1064 nm are promising candidates to fulfill the challenging requirements for laser sources of the next generation of interferometric gravitational wave detectors. We present the current development progress of a fiber amplifier engineering prototype and compare the optical and thermal performance to the solid-state-laser source of advanced LIGO. The fiber amplifier system consists of two monolithic fiber amplifier stages which currently deliver more than 110 W (functional prototype demonstrated 215 W [9,11]) of output power. The fiber amplifier output beam has one to two orders of magnitude lower relative beam pointing and relative power noise in the lower frequency range of 1 Hz to 100 Hz compared to the solid-state-laser system. It also has a polarization extinction ratio above 21 dB and a TEM₀₀-mode content of more than 97.8 % ±0.6 % at 110 W output power. Besides the optical properties, repair and maintenance procedures are improved by a modular design of the system. Each of the modules can separately be maintained and repaired or easily be replaced by a preassembled module; it therefore minimizes laser downtimes. Another advantage is the lower heat load of approximately 500 W compared to the SSL, which produces more than 4500 W of heat, both at an optical output power of 200 W. The lower heat load simplifies cooling and reduces the complexity of the modules.
Organisation(s): QuantumFrontiers
Institute of Gravitation Physics
Institute of Transport and Automation Technology
External Organisation(s): Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH)
Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute)
Type: Conference contribution
No. of pages: 7
Publication date: 07.03.2019
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Condensed Matter Physics, Computer Science Applications, Applied Mathematics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.15488/10252 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2508532 (Access: Closed)

BibTeX

@inproceedings{653a05706e554f90b347f08effd60162,
title = "Characterization of the monolithic fiber amplifier engineering prototype for the next generation of gravitational wave detectors",
abstract = "Single-frequency Yb3+ fiber amplifiers operating at 1064 nm are promising candidates to fulfill the challenging requirements for laser sources of the next generation of interferometric gravitational wave detectors. We present the current development progress of a fiber amplifier engineering prototype and compare the optical and thermal performance to the solid-state-laser source of advanced LIGO. The fiber amplifier system consists of two monolithic fiber amplifier stages which currently deliver more than 110 W (functional prototype demonstrated 215 W [9,11]) of output power. The fiber amplifier output beam has one to two orders of magnitude lower relative beam pointing and relative power noise in the lower frequency range of 1 Hz to 100 Hz compared to the solid-state-laser system. It also has a polarization extinction ratio above 21 dB and a TEM00-mode content of more than 97.8 % ±0.6 % at 110 W output power. Besides the optical properties, repair and maintenance procedures are improved by a modular design of the system. Each of the modules can separately be maintained and repaired or easily be replaced by a preassembled module; it therefore minimizes laser downtimes. Another advantage is the lower heat load of approximately 500 W compared to the SSL, which produces more than 4500 W of heat, both at an optical output power of 200 W. The lower heat load simplifies cooling and reduces the complexity of the modules.",
keywords = "Gravitational wave detection, Monolithic fiber amplifier, Single-frequency",
author = "Felix Wellmann and Michael Steinke and Fabian Thies and Nina Bode and Patrick Oppermann and Benno Willke and Ludger Overmeyer and J{\"o}rg Neumann and Dietmar Kracht",
note = "Funding information: The authors would like to thank Prof. Willke of the Albert-Einstein-Institut Hannover for the successful and on-going cooperation in the field of single-frequency laser systems for GWDs. Funding was provided by the Max Plank Institute for Gravitational Physics; Fiber Lasers XVI: Technology and Systems 2019 ; Conference date: 04-02-2019 Through 07-02-2019",
year = "2019",
month = mar,
day = "7",
doi = "10.15488/10252",
language = "English",
series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",
publisher = "SPIE",
editor = "Carter, {Adrian L.} and Liang Dong",
booktitle = "Fiber Lasers XVI",
address = "United States",
}