Theoretical Study on Transverse Mode Instability in Raman Fiber Amplifiers Considering Mode Excitation

Raman fiber lasers (RFLs), which are based on the stimulated Raman scattering effect, generate laser beams and offer distinct advantages such as flexibility in wavelength, low quantum defects, and absence from photo-darkening. However, as the power of the RFLs increases, heat generation emerges as a critical constraint on further power scaling. This escalating thermal load might result in transverse mode instability (TMI), thereby posing a significant challenge to the development of RFLs. In this work, a static model of the TMI effect in a high-power Raman fiber amplifier based on stimulated thermal Rayleigh scattering is established considering higher-order mode excitation. The variations of TMI threshold power with different seed power levels, fundamental mode purities, higher-order mode losses, and fiber lengths are investigated, while a TMI threshold formula with fundamental mode pumping is derived. This work will enrich the theoretical model of TMI and extend its application scope in TMI mitigation strategies, providing guidance for understanding and suppressing TMI in the RFLs. © 2024 by the authors.