Fig. 1. Schematic of the system with the microscopy image of the thulium-doped large-mode area photonic crystal fiber (TD-LMA-PCF) cross-section and the splice point between the TD-LMA-PCF to a polarization-maintaining 30/250 silica fiber.

Fig. 2. Schematic of laser scanner setup for the topographical engineering of hydrogels.

Fig. 3. (a) Slope efficiency curve of the main amplifier; (b) TD-LMA-PCF beam profile at different output powers; (c) Spectra of main amplifier seed (pre-amplifier 2 output) and main amplifier output at different pulse energies. Inset: Main amplifier output pulse measured using a fast photodetector.

Fig. 4. (a) Compressor efficiency and CVBG 1 leakage at different main amplifier output powers; (b) Autocorrelation trace of recompressed pulse at 1.7 W and 4.6 W average powers. Inset: Spectra at corresponding output powers after the compressor.

Fig. 5. (a)M² measurement at the highest pulse energy after compressor. Inset: Beam profile at the highest pulse energy after compressor; (b) Power stability of the compressor output over 2 hours.

Fig. 6. Microscopy image of microchannels abricated on the hydrogel.

Fig. 7. (a) Schematic of laser scanner setup on dried hydrogel films. Inset: Schematic of foam formation due to water absorption within film causing laser-induced expansion. (b) Scanning electron microscopy images of foamed hydrogel films with decreasing photon flux (scanning speeds of 100, 120 and 150 mm/s at 4 W) from left to right.