Photon avalanche upconversion in Er3+:YAlO3

The results of an investigation of photon avalanche upconversion pumping in Er³⁺:TiAlO₃ are reported. Five pump wavelengths corresponding to transitions from the metastable ⁴I_13/2 state to the ²H_11/2 state generated upconversion laser emission at 549.8 nm. The dependence of the laser output power on pump power near laser threshold is discussed in terms of a four-level kinetics model and is shown to reflect the threshold power requirement for photon avalanche. The maximum output power at 7 K was 33 mW, giving an optical conversion efficiency of 3.5% and a conversion efficiency of 28% based on absorbed power. Pumping Er:YALO by cross relaxation energy transfer produced 166 mW of laser output with an optical conversion efficiency of 17%     

Ti:Er:LiNbO3 waveguide laser of optimized efficiency

The development of a Fabry-Perot-type Ti,Er:LiNbO₃ waveguide laser of optimized CW output power up to 63 mW (λ_s =1561 nm) at a pump power level of 210 mW (λ_p=1480 nm) and a slope efficiency of up to 37% is reported. The theoretical model for the waveguide laser is presented and applied to determine the optimum resonator configuration using waveguide parameters obtained from a detailed characterization of the laser sample. With pulsed pumping, waveguide laser pulses of up to 6.2 W peak power were observed. Apart from residual relaxation oscillations, the laser emission proved to be shot-noise limited     

Diode-pumped and packaged acoustooptically tunableTi:Er:LiNbO3 waveguide laser of wide tuning range

Design, fabrication, and properties of an acoustooptically tunable Ti:Er:LiNbO₃ waveguide laser of up to 31-nm tuning range in the wavelength band 1530 nm<λ<1575 nm are discussed. The laser cavity is formed by an Au mirror and a dielectric mirror as output coupler, both vacuum-deposited on the polished waveguide endfaces. As tunable intracavity wavelength filter with zero frequency shift, two monolithically integrated single-stage acoustooptical TE-TM-mode converters are used together with two polarization splitters operated as TE- and TM-pass polarizers, respectively. The minimum threshold of about 54 mW (coupled) pump power is obtained at λ≈1561-nm emission wavelength for diode laser pumping at λ_p≈1480 nm. With about 110-mW coupled pump power, up to 320-μW output power is achieved; the emission linewidth is 0.3 nm     

Room temperature near-infrared tunable Cr:La3Ga5SiO14 laser

Laser operation was achieved in a Cr-doped crystal of La₃ Ga₅SiO₁₄. The laser had a free-running wavelength of 960 nm at room temperature from 862 to 1107 nm. Up to 80 mW output power has been measured with 1.5 W of pump power absorbed from a krypton ion laser. The ⁴T₂ fluorescence spectrum showed a peak at 890 nm indicating an unusually large Franck-Condon shift. At room temperature the fluorescence lifetime was 5.3 μs and the fluorescence quantum yield was measured to be about 14%     

Diode-pumped ytterbium-doped Sr5(PO4)3F laser performance

The performance of the first diode-pumped Yb³⁺-doped Sr ₅(PO₄)₃F (Yb:S-FAP) solid-state laser is discussed. An InGaAs diode array has been fabricated that has suitable specifications for pumping a 3×3×30 mm Yb:S-FAP rod. The saturation fluence for diode pumping was deduced to be 5.5 J/cm ² for the particular 2.8 kW peak power diode array utilized in our studies. This is 2.5× higher than the intrinsic 2.2 J/cm ² saturation fluence as is attributed to the 6.5 nm bandwidth of our diode pump array. The small signal gain is consistent with the previously measured emission cross section of 6.0×10^-20 cm², obtained from a narrowband-laser pumped gain experiment. Up to 1.7 J/cm³ of stored energy density was achieved in a 6×6×44 mm Yb:S-FAP amplifier rod. In a free running configuration, diode-pumped slope efficiencies up to 43% (laser output energy/absorbed pump energy) were observed with output energies up to ~0.5 J per 1 ms pulse. When the rod was mounted in a copper block for cooling, 13 W of average power was produced with power supply limited operation at 70 Hz with 500 μs pulses     

Efficient, scalable, internally folded Nd:YAG laser end-pumped bylaser diodes

A scalable diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser is described in which the gain element resembles a penta-prism. This design allows longitudinal pumping along five separate axes. Using five high-power single stripe laser diodes, 4.16 W of absorbed power produced 2.3 W CW at 1.06 μm. The slope efficiency was 56%, the output was plane polarized, and the laser operated in the TEM₀₀ mode. The threshold power, was 48 mW. No evidence of thermal saturation was observed up to the maximum pump power. With an intracavity KTP crystal, 431 mW of CW amplitude-stable output at 532 nm was generated. Repetitive Q-switched operation is also reported     

Internally folded Nd:YAG and Nd:YVO4 lasers pumped bylaser diodes

An efficient, scalable, diode-pumped Nd laser design is reported. The gain element can be longitudinally pumped along five separate axes and is relatively simple to fabricate. Both Nd:YAG and Nd:YVO₄ gain media were evaluated. Using five single-stripe laser diodes to pump the Nd:YAG, 3.94 W of absorbed power produced 2.1 W CW at 1.06 μm. The slope efficiency was 54 percent and the output was TEM₀₀. The threshold power was 40 mW. No evidence of thermal saturation was observed up to the maximum pump power. Repetitively Q-switched operation is also reported. The maximum output power for Nd:YVO₄ obtained with 2.9 W of pump power was 1.3 W. The slope efficiency was 47 percent     

Theoretical and experimental investigations of a diode-pumpedquasi-three-level laser: the Yb3+-doped Ca4GdO(BO3)3 (Yb:GdCOB) laser

We present a theoretical and experimental analysis of a diode-pumped Yb³⁺-doped Ca₄GdO(BO₃)₃ (Yb:GdCOB) laser. A new model for a diode-pumped quasi-three-level laser is described. The effects of absorption saturation, temperature profile, and the beam quality M² factor of the pump diode have been taken into account, for the first time to our knowledge. We have obtained a good agreement between experimental measurements and theoretical calculations with two different pump wavelengths, 902 and 976 nm. Our model has given good predictions of the laser performances for different crystal temperatures and different M² factors of the pump beam. As much as 440 mW of output power (at 1082 nm) have been achieved for 640 mW of absorbed pump power at 976 nm, corresponding to one of the highest slope efficiencies (81%) ever obtained with Yb-doped lasers     

Laser-diode-pumped Cr:LiSrGaF6 laser

Diode-pumped operation of a Cr:LiSrGaF₆ laser is described. Efficient performance was obtained between 810 and 855 nm. The maximum output power was 130 mW at 810 nm, and the slope efficiency was 26%. The sample was pumped with a total incident power of 560 mW using two polarization-combined high-power visible laser diodes. These results represent the CW power reported for a diode-pumped Cr-doped laser     

Dye laser pumped Pr3+-doped fiber lasers: basicparameter investigation, CW operation, and Q-switched operation

An investigation of a Pr³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ -SiO₂ glass fiber is described. The basic material parameters like fluorescence lifetime and stimulated emission cross section, measured around 1048 nm, where the fiber has a strong emission band, are discussed. The pump source was a Rh6G dye laser at 590 nm. Continuous wave (CW,) operation with a slope efficiency of 26% and a pump threshold of 1.2 mW was obtained. The Q-switched operation, yielding a repetition rate up to 10 kHz with a maximum peak power of 30 W and a minimum pulsewidth of 25 ns, is described     

Single-frequency Ti:Al2O3 ring laser

Over 500 mW of single-frequency power has been obtained from a Ti:Al₂O₃ ring laser pumped by 10 W (all lines) from an argon ion laser. The ring laser can be tuned from 750 to 850 nm while maintaining more than 100 mW in single-frequency operation without realignment or a change of optics. The free-running frequency stability of the laser is 3 MHz. Thermal effects cause changes in the ring cavity parameters, limiting the output power. This ring laser has also been operated with an acoustooptic mode locker to obtain 200-ps mode-locked pulses at 250 MHz with nearly the same average power as in single-mode operation     

Room-temperature CW laser operation at ~1.55 μm (eye-safe range)of Yb:Er and Yb:Er:Ce:Ca2Al2SiO7crystals

Room-temperature CW laser operation at 1.55 μm of Yb:Er:Ca₂Al₂SiO₇ (CAS) single crystal pumped at 940 nm and 975 nm has been achieved for the first time. Introduction of a third doping ion, Ce³⁺, decreases the Er ³⁺⁴I_11/2 excited-state lifetime and improves the laser properties. For Yb:Er:Ce:CAS single crystal, a maximum of 20 mW output power is produced for 285 mW absorbed power. With this material, a low threshold of 20 mW and a relatively high slope efficiency of ~5.5% are obtained. Preliminary results indicate possible improvement in the near future. Experimental threshold values and laser properties of CAS crystals with various compositions are in good agreement with calculations, performed using the rate-equations modeling. Comparison with a Yb:Er:phosphate glass laser is also presented     

Fluorescence and laser operation in single-mode Ti-diffusedNd:MgO:LiNbO3 waveguide structures

The spectral properties of the guided-wave Nd fluorescence and results of laser oscillation in Ti-indiffused single-mode Nd:MgO:LiNbO ₃ waveguides and waveguide cavities, respectively, are reported. The splitting and polarization behavior of the fluorescence lines around 0.9, 1.08, and 1.37 μm were studied. Using a single-mode diode laser as a pump source (λ_p=814.6 nm), an oscillation threshold in an 8-mm-long structure of 2.1-mW absorbed pump power has been obtained. An output power up to 310 μW (limited by the available pump power), a slope efficiency of 16% at power levels >150 μW, and an emission linewidth of 0.21 nm (at λ_s=1085 nm) have been measured     

高效连续Nd:LuVO4-BiBO 深蓝激光器

Nd:LuVO4 晶体因具有相比于Nd:YVO4 和Nd:GdVO4 晶体更大的吸收和发射截面而受到广泛关注.一种高效的泵浦方式因此而产生:将Nd3+离子直接泵浦到4F3/2激光上能级来改善激光器参数,不仅可以减小激光器的阈值,提高激光器的斜效率,并且可以降低非辐射跃迁过程中所产生的热量.利用888 nm 激光二极管直接泵浦Nd:LuVO4 晶体,实现三能级Nd:LuVO4激光器.当入射泵浦功率为18.6 W 时,916 nm 的输出功率为2.5 W,激光器的阈值功率为4.7 W,相应的斜效率为17.8%.入射泵浦功率不变的情况下,获得的最大蓝光输出功率为743mW.蓝光输出功率的稳定性高于3%.光束质量M2的值为1.12.     

Raman Scattering and Nd3+ Laser Operation in NaLa(WO 4)2

The continuous-wave laser operation of Nd-doped tetragonal NaLa(WO ₄)₂ crystal is studied at room temperature by optical pumping in the spectral region overlapping AlGaAs diode laser emission. This crystal has inhomogeneously broadened optical bands. From the room-temperature spectroscopic parameters determined it is found that the optimum Nd concentration for the ⁴F_3/2rarr⁴I_J laser channels must be in the 3-5 at.% range. For J=11/2 and 13/2 channels (lambdaap1.06 and 1.3 mum) the most favourable polarization configuration is parallel to the crystallographic c axis, while for J=9/2 little polarization dependence of the laser efficiency is predicted. Laser operation was achieved with a 3.35 at.% Nd-doped sample grown by the Czochralski method. The laser operation was tested in an hemispherical optical cavity pumped by a Ti:sapphire laser. Stimulated emission at lambda=1056 nm was achieved for a wide spectral pumping range, lambda=790-820 nm. Stimulated Raman scattering was achieved in the picosecond regime with an efficiency similar to that of monoclinic KY(WO₄)₂ reference compound     

Performance of a continuous-wave forsterite laser with krypton ion,Ti:sapphire, and Nd:YAG pump lasers

The authors characterize continuous-wave operation of a chromium-doped forsterite (Cr⁴⁺:Mg₂SiO₄) laser using krypton ion, Ti:sapphire, and Nd:YAG lasers as pump sources. Measurements were made pumping at 647 nm and 676 nm with the krypton ion laser, between 690 and 1010 nm with the Ti:sapphire laser, and at 1.06 μm with the Nd:YAG laser. Threshold pump powers and slope efficiencies are compared for output coupler transmissions varying between 1 and 15.5%. Room-temperature operation was only achieved using the Nd:YAG pump laser. Forsterite laser output power as a function of both temperature and pumping wavelength is discussed     

Nd:Y2O3透明陶瓷4F3/2-4I11/2跃迁光谱及高效激光输出

报道了采用真空烧结法结合热等静压技术制备的Nd:Y₂O₃透明陶瓷的荧光光谱特性及相关激光输出。通过与Nd:YAG透明陶瓷的荧光光谱对比,表明Nd:Y₂O₃透明陶瓷的4F_3/2-4I_11/2跃迁光谱存在着多个增益相当的谱线,这更有利于实现同时双波长段激光振荡;不同斯塔克子跃迁光谱的离散特性有利于通过腔镜镀膜控制不同波长损耗,获得丰富的1.0~1.1 μm波段激光。利用简单的平平两镜腔结构完成进一步的实验,通过选择的输出镜片镀膜获得了输出功率3.62 W、转换效率40.4%的1074.6 nm和1078.8 nm的双波长输出和输出功率1.7 W、转换效率19.4%的1130.3 nm波长输出。     

Excitation spectra of the green Ho:fluorozirconate glass fiberlaser

Laser and fluorescence excitation spectra of the green Ho:ZBLAN glass fiber laser have been measured at room temperature by pumping 20-90-cm-long fibers in the 640-653-nm spectral region with a CW dye laser. Pronounced structure in the laser excitation spectrum appears to arise from Stark sublevels of the Ho³⁺⁵F₅ and ⁵I₈ states rather than excited state absorption. Because the overall gain profile is inhomogeneously broadened, the laser excitation spectrum width increases with pump power and is ~5.7-nm FWHM when the pump power is a factor of 2.3 above threshold. For a 22-cm fiber, the threshold pump power is 128±5 mW and, with 5% output coupling, more than 12 mW has been extracted in the green for 318 mW of 646.7 nm input power. The slope efficiency for this oscillator (accounting for the pump launch efficiency) exceeds 14%     

基于金纳米笼和MoS2的1 123 nm被动调Q Nd: YAG激光器

采用电流置换反应成功制备了金纳米笼溶液并首次验证了其在1123 nm处的非线性饱和吸收特性,作为对比,同样制备了MoS₂饱和吸收体。分别将金纳米笼和MoS₂作为饱和吸收体,实现了中心波长为1 123 nm的Nd: YAG激光器的调Q运转。在MoS₂为饱和吸收体的调Q激光器中,当泵浦功率为6.81 W时,得到的最大平均输出功率为208 mW,最短脉冲宽度为412 ns,最大脉冲重复率为233 kHz。在金纳米笼为饱和吸收体的调Q激光器中,当泵浦功率为6.04 W时,得到的最大平均输出功率为221 mW,最短脉冲宽度为253 ns,最大脉冲重复率为326 kHz。与MoS₂调Q激光器的实验结果相比,金纳米笼调Q激光器获得的输出功率和效率更高,脉冲宽度更窄,重复率更高。结果证明了金纳米笼在近红外波段激光器中用作饱和吸收体的巨大潜力。     

A diode-pumped 1.4-W Tm3+:GdVO4 microchiplaser at 1.9 μm

GdVO₄ as a host for thulium has several advantages for diode pumping in comparison with other crystals. The absorption cross section of thulium in GdVO₄ is considerably stronger and broader than in YAG and YLF, and the spectrum is shifted closer to the emission wavelength of commercially available AlGaAs laser diodes. In our paper, we report on a diode-pumped monolithic Tm³⁺(6.9 at.%):GdVO₄ microchip laser at 1.9 μm. A maximum output power of 1.4 W is achieved. Two different arrangements for cooling the crystal are discussed. Furthermore, the input-output curves under Ti:sapphire pumping are compared for different pump wavelengths. Slope efficiencies of 58%, clearly exceeding the Stokes limit of 41%, are achieved