105-kW peak-power double-clad fiber laser

A diode-pumped Yb-doped double-clad fiber laser operating in a Q-switched regime is described. By exploiting pulsed pump light and stimulated Brillouin scattering of the gain fiber, a peak power of 105 kW has been demonstrated, which is an order of magnitude greater than that of conventional Q-switched fiber devices. Pulse energy of 0.5 mJ and pulse duration of 5 ns have been achieved.