Multi-point side pumping scheme of fiber lasers for high-power diode arrays

A multi-point side pumping scheme of double-clad fiber lasers was presented for high-power diode arrays. It made use of multiple dielectric transmission gratings to realize high coupling efficiency and low pump light leakage ratio simultaneously. Appropriate material and practical structural parameters of the transmission gratings were chosen and designed by using a rigorous Eigen-mode theory combined with a genetic algorithm (GA) and a quasi-Newton method. The GA provided initial parameter values for the quasi-Newton method to get the final optimal results. For TE-polarized pump lights, a perfect transmission grating structure was found for side pumping and the coupling efficiency (CE) of 98% can be achieved. Meanwhile, the CE is 83% for TM-polarized pump lights. And the leakage ratios of the pump lights were only 11.3% and 4.9% for TE- and TM-polarized when a multi-point side pumping scheme was adopted.