Analysis of the laser performance of Tm3+: ZBLAN glass at 1.47μm wavelength

A formula for the threshold energy of a four-level-system laser in Tm^{3+} doped fluoride glass is derived. The formula contains the parameters of the interaction between the ions and the up-conversion rate of the pump-light. It is discussed that the Tb^{3+} ions and the up-conversion pump-light have an influence on the laser performance of Tm^{3+} ions around 1.47μm wavelength. We draw the following two conclusions. (1) The laser threshold descends obviously due to the doping of Tb^{3+} ions, but the descending gradually flattens out with the increase of the content of Tb^{3+} ions. Its suitable content is (1－2)×10^{20}cm^{-3}. (2) When pump-lights both from the up-conversion and from the ground state excite simultaneously the single-doped Tm^{3+} ions, the threshold energy can reduce and the output energy can increase. In this paper, the energy conversion efficiency from the up-conversion pump-light to the output energy of laser is estimated.