Picosecond MOPA laser system enhanced by novel micro-optic components

We present the design and construction of a mode-locked Master Oscillator Power Amplifier (MOPA) laser system, featuring a passive mode-locked oscillator operating at 1064 nm and a novel single-stage power amplifier with up to 40 dB gain. The amplifier delivers over 500 W peak power through a single-mode, 6 μm core Polarization-Maintaining (PM) fiber, producing 10 ps pulses with an ideal Gaussian beam profile. Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) is effectively suppressed to -50 dB relative to the laser signal in the output spectrum. The system has demonstrated stable operation for over 10,000 hours, including continuous operation and intermittent on-off cycling. Throughout this period, no variations in self-starting behavior, output power, wavelength, or spectral bandwidth were observed.