Ixblue IXF-VLMA-40-220-PM-YB-V1 Large-Mode-Area Polarization-Maintaining Ytterbium-Doped Fiber

Overview

The Ixblue IXF-VLMA-40-220-PM-YB-V1 is a polarization-maintaining, large-mode-area (LMA) ytterbium-doped optical fiber engineered for high-power ultrafast laser amplification systems. Designed with a 40 µm core diameter and a fully solid, step-index structure, this fiber delivers a mode field area of 750 µm² while preserving robust single-mode operation—enabled by stress-induced birefringence in the PM architecture. Its optimized waveguide geometry suppresses higher-order mode excitation under high peak power conditions, mitigating nonlinear effects such as stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and self-phase modulation (SPM). This makes the VLMA-40 fiber particularly suitable for chirped pulse amplification (CPA) architectures operating at repetition rates from kHz to MHz and average powers exceeding 100 W. The fiber complies with IEC 60793-2-50 (category A1a.1) for multimode and rare-earth-doped fibers and is manufactured under ISO 9001-certified processes in Ixblue’s facility in Brest, France.

Key Features

• 40 µm core diameter enabling high-energy pulse delivery with reduced nonlinear phase accumulation
• Polarization-maintaining performance with ≥20 dB PER over 10 m length, ensuring stable linear polarization output for interferometric and coherent beam combining applications
• 750 µm² effective mode field area—optimized for diffraction-limited beam quality (M² < 1.1) in master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) configurations
• Fully solid, step-index design eliminates air-hole-related contamination risks and improves mechanical reliability during splicing and cabling
• High pump absorption coefficient (1.2 ± 0.2 dB/m @ 976 nm) compatible with standard 976 nm multimode pump diodes
• 100 kpsi proof-tested acrylate coating ensures long-term mechanical integrity under thermal cycling and bending stress in industrial OEM laser heads

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The IXF-VLMA-40-220-PM-YB-V1 is designed for seamless integration into commercial and custom ultrafast laser platforms. It is fully compatible with GRIN-based mode-field adapters (e.g., Ixblue’s GRIN-PM-40 series), enabling low-loss (<0.15 dB) fusion splices between the LMA fiber and conventional single-mode or multimode pump delivery fibers. The fiber meets RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU and REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 for hazardous substance restrictions. Its spectral attenuation profile conforms to ITU-T G.650.1 for chromatic dispersion and modal noise characterization. For regulated environments—including medical laser system development and aerospace-grade lidar subsystems—the fiber supports traceable calibration documentation and can be supplied with full lot-level test reports (including cut-off wavelength mapping, PER profiling, and absorption spectra).

Software & Data Management

While the fiber itself is a passive-optical component, its integration into active laser systems benefits from Ixblue’s FiberLab™ characterization suite (v3.2+), which enables automated measurement of bend-induced polarization drift, splice loss prediction, and thermal stability modeling across −40 °C to +85 °C operational ranges. When deployed in FDA-regulated laser manufacturing facilities, the fiber’s lot-specific certification data—including spectral absorption scans and polarization extinction ratio maps—can be imported into electronic lab notebooks (ELN) compliant with 21 CFR Part 11 requirements. Traceability records are retained for ≥15 years per Ixblue’s GLP-aligned quality management system.

Applications

• High-average-power femtosecond and picosecond fiber amplifiers for precision micromachining of metals, ceramics, and transparent polymers
• Coherent beam combining arrays requiring polarization fidelity across multiple parallel amplifier channels
• Eye-safe 1064 nm LIDAR transmitters for autonomous vehicle perception systems and atmospheric remote sensing
• Scientific ultrafast sources for time-resolved spectroscopy, attosecond pulse generation, and plasma physics experiments
• OEM integration into turnkey industrial laser workstations certified to IEC 60825-1:2014 (laser safety) and EN 61000-6-4:2019 (EMC emissions)

FAQ

What is the recommended pump wavelength range for optimal absorption efficiency?
The fiber exhibits peak absorption at 976 nm, with usable pump bandwidth spanning 915–980 nm. For high-efficiency cladding-pumped configurations, 976 nm single-emitter diodes are preferred; for broad-spectrum pump sources, 915 nm multimode pumps may be used with appropriate absorption-length scaling.
Can this fiber be spliced using standard fusion splicers?
Yes—when paired with Ixblue’s GRIN-PM-40 mode-field adapter and calibrated arc discharge parameters (e.g., Fujikura CT-109 or Vytran GPX-3400B), splice losses below 0.12 dB are routinely achieved without active polarization alignment.
Is the fiber compatible with hollow-core photonic crystal fiber delivery systems?
It is not directly compatible due to mode-field mismatch; however, it serves as an ideal gain medium upstream of free-space or lensed-fiber coupling interfaces to hollow-core fibers in hybrid ultrafast architectures.
Does Ixblue provide customized coating or jacketing options?
Yes—custom dual-acrylate, polyimide, or hermetic carbon coatings are available upon request for high-temperature or vacuum-compatible deployment scenarios.
What is the maximum recommended average power for continuous-wave operation?
Under optimized thermal management (e.g., conductive mounting on copper heat sinks with ≤0.5 K/W thermal resistance), the fiber supports >300 W average power at 1064 nm with negligible thermal lensing or photodarkening over 10,000 hours of operation.