Narrow-linewidth, Yb 3+ -doped, hybrid microstructured fibre laser operating at 1178 nm

A narrow-linewidth fibre laser operating at 1178 nm that employs a double-clad Yb3+-doped hybrid microstructured fibre, is demonstrated. The fibre suppresses amplified spontaneous emission by the photonic bandgap effect, and parasitic lasing at shorter wavelength range (1030–1100 nm) was prevented. A narrow-linewidth (<0.05 nm), CW output of 0.5 W at 1178 nm with a slope efficiency of 14%, was measured.