Photodarkening-induced power degradation of single-mode Yb3+-doped fiber laser

Laser performance of Yb³⁺-doped silica fiber laser at 980 nm and 1064 nm was investigated theoretically and experimentally. Significantly degraded laser output power at 980 nm was analyzed with photodarkening characterization of the Yb³⁺-doped silica fiber when lasing at 980 nm and 1064 nm, which shows that the Yb³⁺-doped fiber laser power difference between simulation and experiment is proportional to the level of photodarkening related to population inversion.