3 ms·
I don't really have numbers for you, but there are currently 120 kW+ fiber lasers. A lot of the difficulty is in coupling, small defects or misalignment can eas
by bloggie 3y ago
I don't really have numbers for you, but there are currently 120 kW+ fiber lasers. A lot of the difficulty is in coupling, small defects or misalignment can easily self-destruct. (https://www.ipgphotonics.com/en/products/lasers/high-power-cw-fiber-lasers/1-micron/yls-1-120-kw https://www.ipgphotonics.com/en/products/lasers/high-power-c...) Commonly used QBH connector (https://www.coherent.com/news/blog/qbh-fiber-optic-cables https://www.coherent.com/news/blog/qbh-fiber-optic-cables) The losses inside the fiber can be small in comparison and less of a problem due to manufacturing process control. There are efforts to develop hollow-core fibers that may be able to couple into free-space with lower loss and risk.
- cycomanic 3y agoIt's worth noting that the word "fibre" should be interpreted very loosely when it comes to high power lasers. They are often very specialised and in many cases more like "rods" i.e. held completely straight as even small bending would introduce enough loss to then cause the fibre to melt. That said you can deliver 100s of W with relatively off the shelf fibres.