High-power fiber injection criteria and system design

Over the past decade we have investigated a number of laser induced damage mechanisms that can occur during the injection and transmission of high-power, Q-switched laser pulses into fused silica fibers. In the course of our studies we have shown that maximizing fiber throughput and minimizing optical damage requires controlling a number of fiber injection parameters. The location and type of damage mechanism observed has been shown to have a strong correlation to the laser source, the design and alignment of the fiber injection optics, fiber end face preparation, and localized stresses introduced due to fixturing or bends in the fiber path. In this paper we review and summarize our earlier work developing injection criteria that should be considered in the component selection and design of a fiber injection system.