Q-switched erbium doped fibre laser utilising a novel large mode area fibre

A high power Q-switched erbium doped fibre laser is demonstrated using a novel, large mode area, single transverse mode fibre. Peak powers in excess of 4 kW, and pulsewidths of 10 ns are reported at a repetition rate of 500 Hz. These results represent the highest peak powers obtained from an actively Q-switched erbium doped fibre laser.