Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics (한국광학회지)

Optical Society of Korea (한국광학회)
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Current Status and Prospects of High-Power Fiber Laser Technology (Invited Paper)

고출력 광섬유 레이저 기술의 현황 및 전망

  • Kwon, Youngchul (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University) ;
  • Park, Kyoungyoon (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Dongyeul (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University) ;
  • Chang, Hanbyul (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Seungjong (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University) ;
  • Vazquez-Zuniga, Luis Alonso (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Yong Soo (Laser Team, Doosan DST) ;
  • Kim, Dong Hwan (Laser Team, Doosan DST) ;
  • Kim, Hyun Tae (Laser Team, Doosan DST) ;
  • Jeong, Yoonchan (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2015.12.14
  • Accepted : 2016.02.03
  • Published : 2016.02.25
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Abstract

Over the past two decades, fiber-based lasers have made remarkable progress, now having reached power levels exceeding kilowatts and drawing a huge amount of attention from academy and industry as a replacement technology for bulk lasers. In this paper we review the significant factors that have led to the progress of fiber lasers, such as gain-fiber regimes based on ytterbium-doped silica, optical pumping schemes through the combination of laser diodes and double-clad fiber geometries, and tandem schemes for minimizing quantum defects. Furthermore, we discuss various power-limitation issues that are expected to incur with respect to the ultimate power scaling of fiber lasers, such as efficiency degradation, thermal hazard, and system-instability growth in fiber lasers, and various relevant methods to alleviate the aforementioned issues. This discussion includes fiber nonlinear effects, fiber damage, and modal-instability issues, which become more significant as the power level is scaled up. In addition, we also review beam-combining techniques, which are currently receiving a lot of attention as an alternative solution to the power-scaling limitation of high-power fiber lasers. In particular, we focus more on the discussion of the schematics of a spectral beam-combining system and their individual requirements. Finally, we discuss prospects for the future development of fiber laser technologies, for them to leap forward from where they are now, and to continue to advance in terms of their power scalability.

최근 20 여년간의 괄목할만한 발전을 통해 단일 광섬유 레이저의 출력은 이미 kW 수준을 상회하고 있으며, 기존의 벌크 방식 레이저의 대체 기술로서 여전히 학계 및 산업계의 뜨거운 관심을 받고 있다. 본 논문은 이와 같은 광섬유 레이저의 괄목할만한 성장을 가능하게 한, 이터븀(Ytterbium) 혼입 이득 광섬유 사용 방식, 레이저 다이오드 펌프와 이중 클래딩 광섬유 구조를 통한 광학적 펌프 방식, 더 나아가서 양자결함을 최소화 하는 종렬 펌핑 방식 등 그 주요 요소 기술들을 개괄하고, 그 극한적 고출력화에 따른 발진 효율 및 특성 저하, 시스템 열화 및 불안정성 증대 등과 같은 고출력 광섬유 레이저 기술 자체가 직면하고 있는 다양한 기술적 문제점 및 그 완화 방안을 논의한다. 여기에서는 광섬유 레이저의 고출력화와 더불어 야기되는 다양한 형태의 광섬유내 비선형 현상, 광섬유 손상 및 모드 불안정 현상에 대한 논의를 포함한다. 이와 더불어, 전술한 다양한 출력 제한 현상을 극복함과 동시에 광섬유 레이저의 출력을 현격한 수준으로 더욱 증가시키기 위한 대체 방안으로 최근 주목을 많이 받고 있는 다중 빔 결합 기술에 대해 개괄적으로 논의한다. 특히, 분광형 다중 빔 결합 기술의 개념적 시스템 구성 요소 및 각 부문별 요구 기술에 대해 보다 심화된 논점을 둔다. 최종적으로 현 수준을 뛰어 넘는 광섬유 레이저의 출력 증대와 본 기술의 지속적 발전을 위한 앞으로의 발전 방향을 논의한다.

Keywords

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