Low-threshold, 12-MHz, multipass-cavity femtosecond Cr4+: Forsterite laser

We report on the development of an extended-cavity, low-threshold femtosecond Cr⁴⁺:forsterite laser operating near 1270 nm. The resonator was end-pumped by a continuous-wave Yb-fiber laser at 1060 nm. The 195-MHz short cavity could be operated with absorbed threshold pump powers as low as about 300 mW. To scale up the pulse energy, the cavity length was increased by using a q-preserving multipass cavity (MPC) consisting of a flat and a curved (R = 4 m), notched high-reflector. Kerr-lens mode locking was used to generate femtosecond pulses and double-chirped mirrors were included in the cavity for dispersion compensation. With an absorbed pump power of 1250 mW, the mode-locked laser produced 4 nJ of pulse energy at an average output power of only 47 mW. The corresponding repetition rate of the extended cavity was 11.7 MHz. The pulse-width was 90 fs and the spectral bandwidth was 23 nm, corresponding to a time-bandwidth product of 0.37.     

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。     

Continuous-wave room-temperature laser oscillation of Cr(3+):MgO

Continuous-wave laser oscillation of Cr(3+):MgO at room temperature was realized under argon-ion laser pumping at 476 and 514 nm. The free-running laser wavelength was 840 nm, and with different mirror sets laser oscillation at 824, 830, 870, and 878 nm was also realized. With different crystals a maximum output power of 48 mW and a lowest threshold with respect to the absorbed pump power of 80 mW were realized. The slope efficiencies with respect to the absorbed pump power were as high as 2.3%. No thermal effects were observed for absorbed pump powers as great as 2.7 W.     

Highly efficient CW intracavity frequency-doubled Yb:YAG-LBO laser at 515 nm under 968 nm diode laser pumping

We describe the output performances of the 1030 nm transition in Yb:YAG under in-band pumping with diode laser at the 968 nm wavelength. An end-pumped Yb:YAG crystal yielded 1.93 W of continuous-wave (CW) output power for 9.1 W of absorbed pump power. The slope efficiency with respect to the absorbed pump power was 23.6%. Furthermore, 205 mW 515 nm green light was acquired by frequency doubling, resulting in an optical-to-optical efficiency with respect to the absorbed pump power of 2.7%. Comparative results obtained for the pump with diode laser at 940 nm are given in order to prove the advantages of the in-band pumping.     

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.     

Ti:Sapphire Pumped 10 at-% Yb:YAG Thin Chip with 320 mW CW laser output of 1.053 μm

We have developed an efficient room-temperature 10 at-% Yb:YAG thin chip (7 mm×7 mm×1 mm) laser operating at 1.053 μm pumped by a Ti-sapphire laser operating at 940 nm. 320 mW of output power was obtained for an absorbed pump power of 791 mW. The slope efficiency was 54%, and extrapolated threshold power was 203 mW.     

Efficient CW Yb:YAG laser at 1048 nm under 968 nm diode laser pumping

We describe the output performances of the 1048 nm transition in Yb:YAG under in-band pumping with diode laser at the 968 nm wavelength. An end-pumped Yb:YAG crystal yielded 787 mW of continuous-wave (CW) output power for 9.1 W of absorbed pump power. Furthermore, 104 mW 524 nm green light was acquired by frequency doubling. Comparative results obtained for the pump with diode laser at 940 nm are given in order to prove the advantages of the in-band pumping.     

Power scaling of laser diode pumped Pr3+:LiYF4 cw lasers: efficient laser operation at 522.6 nm, 545.9 nm, 607.2 nm, and 639.5 nm

We report efficient cw laser operation of laser diode pumped Pr(3+)-doped LiYF4 crystals in the visible spectral region. Using two InGaN laser diodes emitting at λ(P)=443.9?nm with maximum output power of 1?W each and a 2.9-mm-long crystal with a doping concentration of 0.5%, output powers of 938?mW, 418?mW, 384?mW, and 773?mW were achieved for the laser wavelengths 639.5?nm, 607.2?nm, 545.9?nm, and 522.6?nm, respectively. The maximum absorbed pump powers were approximately 1.5?W, resulting in slope efficiencies of 63.6%, 32.0%, 52.1%, and 61.5%, as well as electro-optical efficiencies of 9.4%, 4.2%, 3.8%, and 7.7%, respectively. Within these experiments, laser diode-pumped laser action at 545.9?nm was demonstrated for what is believed to be the first time.     

Continuous wave and tunable laser operation of Yb3+ in disordered NaLa(MoO4)2

Continuous-wave Yb³⁺ laser operation is studied in single crystals of disordered NaLa(MoO₄)₂ at room temperature. The sample used was grown by the Czochralski technique and incorporates an Yb ion density of 3.1×10²⁰ cm^-3. The effect of the Yb concentration on some of the crystal properties is described as well as the spectroscopic Yb³⁺ properties at 5 K. Maximum slope efficiencies of about 40% for π and 38% for σ polarization were obtained under Ti:sapphire laser pumping near 976 nm, respectively. The maximum output power for the π polarization was 400 mW at 1039.5 nm, the threshold in this case amounted to 240 mW (absorbed pump power). The laser emission was tunable between 1016 and 1064 nm with a Lyot filter. Lasing was also realized by pumping with a fiber-coupled diode laser module. Maximum output power of 900 mW at 1035 nm was achieved in this case for the π polarization and the threshold was 280 mW. The results, in terms of output power and tunability, are superior in comparison to all previous reports on Yb-doped disordered double tungstate or molybdate crystals and represent a significant improvement in comparison to earlier experiments with low-doped Yb:NaLa(MoO₄)₂.PACS 42.55.Rz; 42.55.Xi; 42.70.Hj     

Passively Q-switched microchip Er, Yb:YAl3(BO3)4 diode-pumped laser

We report, for the first time to our knowledge, a diode-pumped cw and passively Q-switched microchip Er, Yb:YAl(3)(BO(3))(4) laser. A maximal output power of 800 mW at 1602 nm in the cw regime was obtained at an absorbed pump power of 7.7 W. By using Co(2+):MgAl(2)O(4) as a saturable absorber, a TEM(00)-mode Q-switched average output power of 315 mW was demonstrated at 1522 nm, with pulse duration of 5 ns and pulse energy of 5.25 μJ at a repetition rate of 60 kHz.     

Continuous-wave broadly tunable Cr2+:ZnSe laser

We report room-temperature operation of an all-solid-state broadly tunable continuous-wave Cr(2+):ZnSe laser. Output power of 250 mW, an absorbed power slope efficiency of 63%, and continuous tunability from 2138 to 2760 nm are demonstrated.     

Efficient grating-tuned mid-infrared Cr2+:CdSe laser

Room-temperature, all-solid-state, broadly tunable laser operation of Cr(2+) -doped CdSe has been demonstrated. Pumping with a Q -switched Tm, Ho:YLF laser running at a 1-kHz repetition rate achieved broadband output of 500 mW at 2.6mum with 48% absorbed power slope efficiency. With reduced efficiency, as much as 815 mW of power was obtained. With a diffraction grating, the Cr(2+): CdSe laser was tuned from 2.3 to 2.9mum with 10-nm bandwidth (FWHM) and output power up to 350 mW.     

Directly diode-pumped tunable continuous-wave room-temperature Cr4+:YAG laser

We report what is to our knowledge the first directly diode-pumped tunable (over 120 nm) continuous-wave Cr(4+): YAG laser, operating near 1.5 mum . At room temperature the laser delivered as much as 200 mW of power at 4 W of absorbed pump power. We also report observation of slow laser output degradation and bleaching in highly concentrated cyrstals, which we suggest is due to a photorefractive phenomenon.     

Diode-pumped Nd:GGG laser at 937 nm under direct pumping

A diode-pumped 937 nm Nd:GGG laser operating on the quasi-three-level under direct pumping at wavelength of around 882 nm is demonstrated, and its performances are investigated. A maximum output power of 358 mW at 937 nm was achieved at absorbed pump power of 4.8 W. The optical-to-optical conversion efficiency and the slope efficiency relative to absorbed power were 7.5 and 11.2%, respectively.     

紧凑的新型Yb:GdYAB自倍频激光器

报道了一种新型自倍频晶体Yb∶Gd0.2Y0.75(BO3)4(Yb∶GdYAB)在二极管激光器端面抽运条件下的连续光激光运转。为了实现紧凑的新型全固态激光器的激光运转,设计了一个平平谐振腔,两个镜子的分开距离仅为1 cm,在这种腔结构下,得到了中心波长为1044 nm的基频激光输出,当吸收抽运功率为4.22 W时,基频激光的最大输出功率为1.38 W,相应功率曲线最大斜效率为54%。为获得有效的自倍频激光输出,换用了平凹腔进行了自倍频实验。自倍频光运转阈值仅为900 mW,在吸收抽运功率为3.9 W的条件下,得到144 mW的自倍频绿色激光输出,获得从二极管激光器到绿光的直接光-光转换效率为3.7%。实验结果表明Yb∶GdYAB作为一种新型的自倍频晶体,对于紧凑的1μm波段的基频光和自倍频可见光激光器都有着很大的应用潜力。     

激光二极管泵浦的准连续运转飞秒Cr:LiSAF激光器

报道国内第一台用６７０ｎｍ激光二极管泵浦的准连续锁模运转的Ｃｒ：ＬｉＳＡＦ激光器。对于连续运转,泵浦阈值功率２４０ｍＷ,当吸收功率为３６８ｍＷ的输出,输出波长８５０ｎｍ,斜效率为３．５％。在准连续运转（１００ＨＺ,占空比１／５时）,泵清阈值功率４５ｍＷ,斜效率为９．８％,用染料作为锁模妄动介质,实现了准连续锁模运转,光脉冲输出的中心波长为８５０ｎｍ。     

Yb3+-doped YVO4 crystal for efficient Kerr-lens mode locking in solid-state lasers

We report the first demonstration, to our knowledge, of soft-aperture Kerr-lens mode locking in a diode-pumped femtosecond Yb3+:YVO4 laser. Near-transform-limited pulses as short as 61 fs are generated around a center wavelength of 1050 nm with an output power of 54 mW and a pulse repetition frequency of 104.5 MHz. This is, to our knowledge, the shortest pulse generated directly from an Yb laser having a crystalline host material. The femtosecond operation has a mode-locking threshold at an absorbed pump power of 190 mW. The nonlinear refractive indexes of the Yb3+:YVO4 crystal have been measured to be 19 x 10(-16) cm2/W and 15 x 10(-16) cm2/W for the sigma and pi polarizations, respectively, at 1080 nm.     

激光二极管抽运掺钕钙铌镓石榴石激光器的研究

报道了连续激光二极管（LD）端面抽运的Nd:CNGG非均匀加宽激光器。当吸收抽运功率为675.5mW时，最大TEM00模输出功率为105.5mW、斜率效率为21.2％、光-光转换效率为15.6％。随着抽运功率的增加，三个中心波长实现振荡的次序为1061.3nm、1059.1nm和1065.6nm，实现了三波长同时输出。     

All-Solid-State Nd:YAG Laser Operating at 1064nm and 1319nm under 885nm Thermally Boosted Pumping

We report a high-effciency Nd：YAG laser operating at 1064 nm and 1319nm, respectively, thermally boosted pumped by an all-solid-state Q-switched Ti：sapphire laser at 885 nm. The maximum outputs of 825.4 m W and 459.4mW, at 1064nm and 1319nm respectively, are obtained in a 8-ram-thick 1.1 at.% Nd：YAG crystal with 2.1 W of incident pump power at 885nm, leading to a high slope efficiency with respect to the absorbed pump power of 68.5% and 42.0%. Comparative results obtained by the traditional pumping at 808nm are presented, showing that the slope efficiency and the threshold with respect to the absorbed pump power at 1064nm under the 885nm pumping are 12.2% higher and 7.3% lower than those of 808rim pumping. At 1319nm, the slope efficiency and the threshold with respect to the absorbed pump power under 885nm pumping are 9.9% higher and 3.5% lower than those of 808 nm pumping. The heat generation operating at 1064 nm and 1319 nm is reduced by 19.8% and 11.1%, respectively.     

Diode-pumped, All-solid-state Cr: LiSGaF Laser

A compact and efficient CW Cr: LiSGaF laser pumped by two 670 nm laser diodes was reported. Average power as high as 125 mW was generated with a absorbed pump power of 800 mW. The slope efficiency was 17.2%, and the threshold was 72 mW. The tunability of the laser in detail was investigated and a tuning range of 100 nm from 790 to 890 nm was obtained.