Numerical modelling of self-heating effects on guiding modes of high-power photonic crystal fibre lasers

Abstract

The influence of heat generation on propagating modes in a high-power large-mode-area photonic crystal fibre laser was investigated. The temperature distribution, temperature gradient, thermally induced stresses were first simulated. Then the Maxwell's wave equation with taking the thermal refractive index tensor into account was solved to observe the effects of heat on propagating modes. The results show sensible modifications for TE, TM, and EH mode profiles. However, the linear polarized fundamental mode (HE) was not affected under thermal effects.