Patent ID: 8121155

Claim:
A multi-pumped fiber laser, comprising: an optical fiber, a first end structure, including a first optical path including a first beam splitter for coupling an output of a first pump laser to the first end of the optical fiber to drive the optical fiber, a second optical path including the first beam splitter for coupling the first end of the optical fiber to an optical reflecting element assembly to form a first reflecting end of the resonant optical cavity, and a first vortex lens located between the first end of the optical fiber and the first and second optical paths for shaping an energy profile the output of the first pump laser into the fiber laser to have a region of reduced power in the central regions of the beam enemy profile of the output of the first pump laser, and a second end structure, including a third optical path including a second beam splitter for coupling an output of a second pump laser to a second end of the optical fiber to drive the optical fiber, a fourth optical path including the second beam splitter for coupling the second end of the optical fiber to a second optical reflecting element assembly to form a second reflecting end of the resonant optical cavity, a second vortex lens located between the second end of the optical fiber and the third and fourth optical paths for shaping an energy profile of the output of the second pump laser into the fiber laser to have a region of reduced power in the central regions of the output of the second pump laser, and an output path, including a third beam splitter located in the fourth optical path for coupling an output from the second end of the optical fiber passing through the fourth optical path to a beam output of the fiber laser.