Nowadays, lasers play a critical role in many industries, such as manufacturing and healthcare. But did you know that every strong laser is concealed by an essential part known as a multimode pump combiner? 

This practical tool is used to combine and amplify the light sources that produce a strong laser beam. With so many options available, selecting the best multimode pump combiner for your laser setup can be difficult. 

This blog post will explain multimode pump combiners and offer guidance on which one to choose based on your needs.

What Does “Multimode Pump Combiner” Mean?

A multimode pump combiner is an optical fiber device that essentially takes multiple input laser beams, or “pumps,” and combines them into one powerful output beam. 

After that, the laser gain medium receives this concentrated output beam, which produces an intense laser that is used in a variety of industries, including material processing, telecommunication, and medicine.

Why is It Important To Choose The Right Multimode Pump Combination?

The multimode pump combiner is critical because it determines how much pump power can be delivered to the laser gain medium. 

The generated laser beam gets stronger and more intense with increasing pump power. 

So picking the wrong multimode pump combiner could mean your laser doesn’t reach its full potential.

Key Factors to Consider While Choosing a Multimode Pump Combiner?

Number of Pump Inputs

This refers to how many separate pump sources the combiner can accept and combine into one beam. More inputs mean more potential pump power.

Operating Wavelengths

Different pump combinations work best with pump sources in certain wavelength ranges. You’ll want one matched to the wavelengths of your pump laser diodes.

Power Handling

Make sure to check the maximum pump power rating of the combiner to ensure it can handle the full combined power you need.

Fiber Compatibility 

The fiber types and core sizes of the input/output fibers need to properly match your system for low-loss operation.

Choosing a Simplified Multimode Pump Combiner

With those key specs in mind, here’s a simple 3-step process for choosing a multimode pump combiner:

Assess Pump Requirements

First, determine the number of pump sources you have and the wavelength/power specs of each. This defines the minimum input count and operating range you need.

Match to Laser Type 

Next, look at what types of multimode pump combiners are recommended for the specific laser gain medium and application you have in mind.

Compare Key Specs

Finally, compare the remaining options, looking at max power handling, fiber compatibility, operating wavelength range, and number of inputs, to find the best overall fit.

Conclusion

While multimode pump combiners may seem like simple components, picking the right one is crucial for optimizing your laser’s performance. 

By considering your pump source specifications and laser requirements, you can find a combiner able to efficiently deliver the combined pump power you need. 

With the right multimode pump combiner in place, you’ll be able to maximize the full potential of your laser system.