Supercontinuum self-Q-switched ytterbium fiber laser.

We have discovered a new mechanism for passive Q switching of fiber lasers. 10-kW peak power pulses with ~2-ns pulse widths are reported from a diode-pumped ytterbium-doped fiber laser. The laser generates a high-brightness Raman-dominated supercontinuum spectrum covering the complete window of transparency of silica fiber in the infrared from 1.06 to 2.3 mum.