Q-switched Er-doped fiber source based on electrooptical modulator application

We have realized a Er-doped pulsed fiber source based on the MOPA scheme. A Q-switched ring laser using a Mach–Zander electrooptical modulator was applied as a master oscillator. The amplifier was based on the GTWave Er/Yb-doped fiber pumped into the cladding. A pulse train with the repetition rate of 10 kHz and duration of 130 ns was obtained. Maximum average power of 0.65 W was measured. Output pulse energy can be estimated as 0.06 mJ and peak power as 400 W. Further amplification was limited by the spectrum broadening and gain saturation.