Efficient Fibre Amplifiers Based on a Highly Er3＋/Yb3＋ Codoped Phosphate Glass-Fibre

Highly Er3＋ /yb3＋-codoped single-mode phosphate glass fibre is fabricated by the rod-in-tube technique. The performances of high-concentration Er3＋ /yb3＋-codoped phosphate glass fibre amplifiers are investigated and discussed. An efficient optical fibre amplifier with a gain of 12.6 dB based on a 3.0 cm long Era＋ /ybe＋-codoped phosphate glass fibre is demonstrated under a dual-pump configuration with two 976 nm fibre-pigtail laser diodes, which make it attractive for compact Er3＋-doped fibre amplifiers. The obtedned noise figures of signal wavelength from 1525 to 1565nm are less than 6.0dB. Gain saturation behaviour at 1535nm is also investigated, and the obtained saturation output power is larger than 10 dBm.     

Tm3+/Ho3+共掺碲酸盐微结构光纤激光器

用棒管法拉制了Tm³⁺/Ho³⁺掺杂的碲酸盐微结构光纤,并获得了2 μm的激光输出。以1 560 nm的Er³⁺掺杂石英光纤激光器作为泵浦源,在22 cm长的微结构光纤中,得到了最大功率为8.34 mW、波长为2 065 nm的连续激光输出,泵浦光功率为507 mW,斜率效率为2.97%。研究结果表明,Tm³⁺/Ho³⁺共掺碲酸盐微结构光纤是一种用于研制2 μm激光器的理想材料。     

Compact, Low Threshold Nd^3＋：YVO4 Self-Raman Laser at 1178 nm

A compact low-threshold Raman laser at 1178 nm is experimentally realized by using a diode-end-pumped actively Q-switched Nd^3＋ ：YVO4 self-Raman laser. The threshold is 370mW at a pulse repetition frequency of S kHz. The maximum Raman laser output is 182 m W with the pulse duration smaller than 20 ns at a pulse repetition frequency of 30kHz with 1.8 W incident power. The optical efficiency from the incident power to the Raman laser is 10% and the slope efficiency is 13.5%.     

Er3+/Yb3+ Codoped Phosphate Glass Fibre with Gain per Unit Length Greater Than 3.0dB/cm

We experimentally study a novel fibre with high gain per unit length based on the homemade erbium--ytterbium codoped phosphate glass. The gain and noise characterizations with different pump powers at different wavelengths are investigated. The 1.8-cm-long fibre, dual-pumped by two single mode 980-nm fibre-pigtailed laser diodes, provides a gain per unit length greater than 3.0dB/cm and a noise figure less than 6.5dB. The gain saturation behaviour at 1535nm is obtained and the saturation output power (3dB compression) is greater than 5dBm.     

Spectral Hole-Burning of Eu^3＋：Y2SiO5 Crystal at 16 K

By using an Ar^＋ ion laser, a tunable Rh 6G dye laser （linewidth 0.5cm^-1） pumped by the second harmonic of a YAG：Nd laser and a Coherent 899-21 dye laser as light sources and using a monochromator, a phase-locking amplifier and a computer as the data detecting system, we detect the optical properties of Eu^3＋-doped Y2SiO5 crystal. Persistent ,spectral hole burning （PSHB） are observed in the Eu^3＋ ions spectral lines （^5 Do-T Fo transition） in the crystal at the temperature of 16K. For 15mW dye laser burning the crystal for 0.1 s spectral holes with hole width about 80 MHz both at 579.62nm and at 579.82nm are detected and the holes can remain for a long time, more than 10h.     

Self-Starting Passively Mode-Locked Er^3＋/Yb^3＋ Codoped Phosphate Glass All-Fibre Ring Laser

A self-starting, passively mode-locked all-fibre ring laser based on the homemade Er^3＋/Yb^3＋ codoped phosphate glass fibre is reported. Dual-pump sources were used to achieve the mode-locked operation in the experiment. The fundamental mode-locked pulse repetition rate is 10.67MHz. The pulse duration, assumed as the fit of hyperbolic secant pulse shape, is 5.82ps. We also observe the multi-pulse output of the fibre laser.     

A Single-Longitudinal-Mode Dual-Wavelength cw Tm,Ho:GdVO4 Microchip Laser

A liquid nitrogen cooled dual-wavelength Tm,Ho：GdVO4 microchip laser is reported. The output dual wavelengths axe at 2038.9nm and 2050.1 nm. At each wavelength, the laser has a single longitudinal mode. The threshold power is nearly 20mW and the slope efficiency is 18.7%. The single longitudinal mode output power reaches 98mW, and the ratio of power is about 60% （2038.9nm） and 40% （2050.1 nm）.     

LD抽运Nd:LuVO4微片激光器性能研究

报道了一类新型的LD端面抽运Nd：LuVO₄微片激光器，讨论了在不同掺杂浓度，不同厚度和不同透过率下的激光性质，测定了在不同抽运功率下，微片最佳激光输出功率与LD抽运温度的关系.在2W抽运功率下获得923mW的1064nm激光输出，阈值为48mW，斜效率为52%.对微片制冷后斜效率提高到59%. 关键词： LD抽运 微片激光器 4')" href="#">Nd：LuVO₄     

Cooperative Quantum Cutting of Nano-Crystalline BaF2：Tb^3＋, Yb^3＋ in Oxyfluoride Glass Ceramics

We report on cooperative quantum cutting in Tb^3＋- Yb^3＋ codoped glass ceramics. Precipitation of BaF2 nanocrystals is confirmed by XRD and HRTEM analysis. Near-infrared emission due to transition of Yb^3＋ ions under 485 nm excitation indicates cooperative energy transfer from Tb^3＋ to Yb^3＋. The quantum efficiency of this process reaches 145%. The realization of quantum cutting in glass ceramics may have promising applications in solar cells.     

High Power Continuous-Wave and Acousto-Optic Q-Switched Nd：GdVO4 Laser Operated at 912 nm

We present a high power and efficient operation of the ^4F3/2 → ^4I9/2 transition in Nd：GdVO4 at 912nm. In the cw mode, the maximum output power of 8.6 W is achieved when the incident pump power is 40.3 W, leading to a slope efficiency of 33.3% and an optical-optical efficiency of 21.3%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest cw laser power at 912nm obtained with the conventional Nd：GdVO4 crystal. Pulsed operation of 912nm laser has also been realized by inserting a small aeousto-optie （A-O） Q-Switch inside the resonator. As a result, the minimal pulse width of 20ns and the average laser power 1.43 W at the repetition rate of lOkHz are obtained, corresponding to 7.1 kW peak power. We believe that this is the highest laser peak power at 912nm. Furthermore, duration of 65ns has also been acquired when the repetition rate is 100 kHz.     

Efficient high power Yb3+-silica fibre laser cladding-pumped at 1064 nm

A Yb³⁺-silica fibre laser has been cladding pumped at 1064 nm by a Nd:YAG laser and operated with a slope efficiency of 72±5% with respect to the incident pump power, a total efficiency of 41% and at powers up to 3.7 W in a small scale device. The Yb³⁺-silica double-clad fibre had a quasi-polygonal sinusoidal inner cladding geometry giving high launch efficiency to the fibre and efficient transfer of pump light from the fibre cladding to the core.     

Characteristics of Nd：GdVO4 Laser with Different Nd-Doping Concentrations

We report the properties of a compact diode-pumped continuous-wave Nd：GdV04 laser with a linear cavity and different Nd-doped laser crystals. In a 0.2at.% Nd-doped Nd：GdVO4 laser, 1.54 W output laser power is achieved at 912nm wavelength with a slope efficiency of 24.8% at an absorbed pump power of 9.4W. With 0.3at.% Nd-doping concentration, we can obtain the either single-wavelength emission at 1064nm or 912nm or the dual-wavelength emission at 1064nm and 912nm by controlling the incident pump power. From an incident pump power of 11.6 W, the 1064nm emission between ^4Fa/2 and ^4I11/2 is suppressed completely by the 912nm emission between ^4Fa/2 and ^4I9/2. We obtain 670 mW output of the 912nm single-wavelength laser emission with a slope efficiency of 5.5% by taking an incident pump power of 18.4 W. Using a Nd：GdV04 laser with 0.4at.% Nd-doping concentration, we obtain either the single-wavelength emission at 1064nm or the dual-wavelength emission at both 1064nm and 912nm by increasing the incident pump power. We observe a strong competition process in the dualavelength laser.     

2.7-W Ho<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-doped silica fibre laser pumped at 1100 nm and operating at 2.1 μm

The basic performance characteristics of a Ho ³⁺-doped silica fibre laser that operates in a single transverse mode at ~2.1 µm and is pumped with the 1100-nm output from a free-running Yb ³⁺-doped silica fibre laser are presented. We measure a maximum slope efficiency (with respect to launched pump power) of 35% and we generate a maximum output power of 2.7 W at an optical-to-optical efficiency of 18% with respect to the incident pump power. The wavelength of the output is length tuned from 2090 nm to 2100 nm when the a _absL product varies from 1.2 to 2.7. The use of the free-running output from a Yb ³⁺-doped silica fibre laser to pump the Ho ³⁺-doped silica fibre laser is very convenient and allows significant scaling of the output power.     

Characteristics of a Cataphoresis He-Ca+ Recombination Laser

A cataphoretic input of calcium vapour into the active volume of pulsed He-Ca^＋ laser is designed and made. The recombination laser at 373.3 nm and the R-M transition laser at 854.6 nm are achieved experimentally with modified Blumlein circuit by high-frequency longitudinal pulsed discharge. The dependences of work parameters such as the pulse frequency, the power supply voltage and the helium pressure on laser output characteristics at 373.3nm line are measured and discussed. The maximum laser output power of 136mW and the specific power of 5.9 m W/cm^3 are obtained, respectively.     

Fibre-Format Photonic Source Based on Efficient Frequency Doubling of Continuous-Wave Erbium-Fibre Laser Amplifier

We demonstrate a compact photonic device based on efficient and wavelength-tunable doubling of an all fibreformat source. Quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic generation in periodically poled lithium niobate is used to generate 90.6 m W at 775.9 nm with a single-pass conversion efficiency of 14.7%. A t uning bandwidth of 2.1 nm and a tuning temperature range of 150.6 ± 1.7℃ can be achieved. The Er-doped seed fibre source is amplified by a clad-pumped Er^3＋/Yb^3＋-codoped fibre laser with a high output power up to 2.18 W over a tunable wavelength range from 1535nm to 1570nm.     

Diode pumping of a continuous-wave Pr3+-doped LiYF4 laser

We report, for the first time to our knowledge, diode-pumped cw laser oscillation of Pr3+:LiYF4 in the red spectral range. The pump power is provided by a GaN laser diode emitting a maximum output power of 25 mW at a wavelength of approximately 442 nm. The Pr3+ laser emits 1.8 mW of output power at a 639.7-nm wavelength. Threshold pump power and slope efficiency in a nonoptimized setup are determined to be 5.5 mW and 24%, respectively.     

Effects of Yb^3＋ in Er^3＋/Yb^3＋ Codoped Fluorophosphate Glasses

For the Er^3＋ /Yb^3＋ codoped fluorophosphate glasses, Judd-Ofelt theory is used to analyse the influence of YbF3 as not a sensitizer but an average component on the spectroscopic properties around 1530nm emission. The double roles of Yb^3＋, as a sensitizer and as an average component, are discussed. It is found that Yb^3＋ as an average component contributes to the increase of fluorescence lifetime, and Yb^3＋ as a sensitizer has the best sensitization when its concentration is 2.4 mol%.     

VUV/UV/X-Ray Excited Luminescent Properties of Eu^3＋ and Pr^3＋ Doped BiSbO4

Absorption spectra of BiSbO4 are studied. The electronic structure calculated by the DFT shows that BiSbO4 is a semiconductor, with direct band gap 2.96 eV, which is consistent with UV-visible diffuse reflectance experiment. The host lattice emission band is located at 440 nm under VUV excitation. Eu^3＋ and Pr^3＋ doped samples have high luminescence efficiency in emitting red and green light, respectively. From the partial density of states, Eu^3＋ doped emitting spectrum, and the host crystal structure parameters, the relationship between structure and optical properties is discussed. It is found that the Eu^3＋ ions occupied Bi^3＋ sites, and there could be an energy transfer from Bi^3＋ ions to RE^3＋ ions.     

Highly efficient, low-cost femtosecond Cr3+ :LiCAF laser pumped by single-mode diodes

We describe efficient continuous-wave (cw) and cw mode-locked operations of a Cr3+ :LiCAF laser, pumped by inexpensive single spatial mode laser diodes. Up to 280 mW of cw output power was obtained with 570 mW of absorbed pump power, with a corresponding slope efficiency of 54%. Continuous tuning between 765 and 865 nm was demonstrated using a fused silica prism. A semiconductor saturable absorber mirror was used to initiate and sustain stable, self-starting, mode-locked operation. In cw mode locking, the laser produced 72 fs (FWHM) duration pulses, and 1.4 nJ pulse energy, at an average output power of 178 mW. Electrical to optical conversion efficiencies of 7.8% in mode-locked operation and 12.2% in cw operation were demonstrated.     

Continuous-wave high-power Nd:YAG-KNbO3 laser at 473 nm

A continuous-wave high-power Nd:YAG laser operating on the ⁴F_3/2→⁴I_9/2 transition at 946 nm and intracavity frequency-doubled to 473 nm by a KNbO₃ nonlinear crystal at room temperature is reported. The Nd:YAG laser outputs a randomly polarized beam of 3.8 W maximum power (38% optical-to-optical efficiency and 44% slope efficiency with respect to the absorbed pump power) at the 946 nm fundamental wavelength. Intracavity frequency-doubling with a 2.0-mm thick KNbO₃ crystal in a linear resonator yielded 159-mW single-ended blue-output with 4.8% optical-to-optical conversion efficiency versus the absorbed pump power. The 473-nm maximum power of 418 mW with 11.6% optical-to-optical conversion efficiency in absorbed power was obtained from a V-type resonator; the overall optical-to-optical conversion efficiency was 6.7%, while the conversion of the available infrared power reached 50%.