Open AccessEfficient 2.96 µm dysprosium-doped fluoride fibre laser pumped with a Nd:YAG laser operating at 1.3 µm
Author(s) -
Yuen Hong Tsang,
Atalla El-Taher,
Terence A. King,
Stuart D. Jackson
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/opex.14.000678
Subject(s) - zblan , slope efficiency , materials science , optics , laser , laser linewidth , fiber laser , full width at half maximum , laser pumping , dysprosium , doping , holmium , optoelectronics , chemistry , physics , inorganic chemistry
A quasi-continuous wave Dy(3+)-doped ZBLAN fibre laser pumped by a ~1.3 microm Nd:YAG laser and operating at 2.96 microm with an emission linewidth of ~14 nm (FWHM) has been demonstrated. The (6)H(15/2) ? (6)H(9/2), (6)F(11/2) absorption band of Dy(3+)-doped ZBLAN centred at 1.3 microm has been used to pump the (6)H(13/2) ? (6)H(15/2) laser transition. For a 60 cm fibre length, a threshold of 0.5 W and a slope efficiency of ~20% with respect to the absorbed pump power was measured. The experimental slope efficiency was ~45% of the Stokes efficiency limit. The high efficiency relates to low pump ESA losses and an optimised output coupling as compared with previous demonstrations.