Single-frequency fiber amplifier at 15 µm with 100 W in the linearly-polarized TEM_00 mode for next-generation gravitational wave detectors

Next-generation gravitational wave detectors require single-frequency and high power lasers at a wavelength of 1.5 µm addressing a set of demanding requirements such as linearly-polarized TEM₀₀ radiation with low noise to run for long periods. In this context, fiber amplifiers in MOPA configuration are promising candidates to fulfill these requirements. We present a single-frequency monolithic Er:Yb co-doped fiber amplifier (EYDFA) at 1.5 µm with a linearly-polarized TEM₀₀ output power of 100 W. The EYDFA is pumped off-resonant at 940 nm to enhance the Yb-to-Er energy transfer efficiency and enable higher ASE threshold. We also performed numerical simulations to investigate the off-resonant pumping scheme and confirm the corresponding experimental results.