Watt-level all-fiber 1.7-μm picosecond synchronously pumped Raman laser

A synchronously pumped fiber Raman laser (SPFRL) operating at 1.7 µm is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for the first time to the best of our knowledge. Through the third harmonic pumping by a 1563 nm picosecond pulsed fiber laser, the Stokes pulses are generated with an average power of 1.9 W, a pulse duration of 21 ps, and a repetition frequency of 52.9 MHz. The center wavelength and the 3-dB bandwidth are 1694.3 nm and 0.96 nm respectively. This work provides a pathway to a power scalable ultrafast laser at 1.7 µm via a compact and elegant all-fiber solution.