Pulsed erbium:ytterbium-codoped fibre laser for applications under demanding environmental conditions

Erbium:ytterbium-codoped fibre lasers (EYDFL) are used in many industrial and defence applications such as free-space communication, range finding and LIDAR. These applications benefit from a low atmospheric absorption and improved eye-safety. They are supported by widely available matured fibre components that simplify the realization of the EYDFL, thus reducing costs and increasing reliability. In many applications, the laser is targeted for an outdoor operation. Therefore, a monolithic setup has to be used with an inherent compactness and reliability. Furthermore, pulsed laser operation is needed for certain applications. This investigation shows an all-fibre pulsed EYDFL suitable for operation in harsh environment.