Characterization of tunable low power Yb-doped fiber CW oscillators

A continuous-wave fiber laser characterization based on a Findlay–Clay analysis is proposed. With this procedure, commonly used for solid-state lasers, information about saturation power and reabsorption loss is obtained. The knowledge of these parameters is commonly sufficient for a number of fiber oscillator design issues, but it also allows estimating values for fabrication dependent parameters, such as absorption and emission cross-sections, doping concentrations and dopant effective diffusion areas. As an application example, a single-mode low-power oscillator employing standard and well-known fiber components has been studied, providing values in good agreement with previously reported spectroscopical measurements.

► We characterized a fiber oscillator by a Findlay–Clay analysis. ► A numerical model has been developed for results confirmation. ► Absorption and emission cross-sections are obtained from the analysis. ► Cross-sections can be estimated for many wavelengths using a tunable laser.