Open AccessEffects of ion clustering and excited state absorption on the performance of Ho-doped fiber lasers
Author(s) -
Jiachen Wang,
Narae Bae,
Sang Bae Lee,
Kwanil Lee
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.27.014283
Subject(s) - holmium , materials science , fiber laser , excited state , laser , absorption (acoustics) , doping , ion , fiber , photon upconversion , optoelectronics , optics , atomic physics , chemistry , physics , composite material , organic chemistry
The effects of ion clustering and excited state absorption occurring in holmium-doped fiber lasers are investigated experimentally and theoretically. It is found that the slope efficiencies of holmium-doped fiber lasers are reduced by inhomogeneous upconversion associated with the clustering of Ho 3+ ions. Via theoretical analysis based upon Judd-Ofelt theory, it is also found that the effect of excited state absorption on the performance of Ho-doped fiber lasers is negligible, a fact indicating that ion clustering is the dominant cause of the lower-than-expected slope efficiencies observed in holmium-doped fiber lasers. We argue that ion clustering is an intrinsic flaw of holmium-doped fibers and is difficult to eliminate, because our research efforts are based on commercially available low-concentration fiber, which is fabricated with state-of-the-art techniques.