Peak power scaling of thulium-doped ultrafast fiber laser systems

We investigate challenges for scaling the output peak power of thulium-doped fiber chirped-pulse amplification systems (FCPA) to and beyond the GW-level. A major limitation for reaching high peak powers in the 2 mu m regime is the presence of strong water vapor absorption features that cause detrimental propagation effects in the spatial and the temporal domain. Based on the investigation and understanding of these effects mitigation strategies have been developed, that have been one of the keys to demonstrate a new record pulse peak power of more than 200 MW from a thulium-based ultrafast fiber laser. Future experiments can ultimately lead to a further increase of pulse peak power way beyond the GW-level.