Pr(3+) upconversion laser performance improvement by use of pump scavenging

Area of Science:

• Laser physics
• Materials science
• Optical engineering

Background:

• Efficient power utilization is crucial for upconversion lasers.
• Pr(3+)-doped fluoride fibers offer unique optical properties.
• Upconversion lasers face challenges with pump power absorption and threshold reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of pump scavenging on Pr(3+)-doped fluoride fiber upconversion lasers.
• To determine the effectiveness of reusing unabsorbed pump power.
• To optimize conversion efficiency and reduce the lasing threshold.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical modeling of pump power dynamics in a laser cavity.
• Experimental setup for a Pr(3+)-doped fluoride fiber upconversion laser.
• Implementing and evaluating a pump scavenging technique using backreflection.

Main Results:

• Backreflected pump power demonstrated comparable effects on conversion efficiency to forward pumps.
• Total backreflection of pumps led to a 60% increase in absorbed pump power.
• Output power doubled, and the threshold was reduced by 40%.

Conclusions:

• Pump scavenging via backreflection is an effective strategy for enhancing upconversion laser performance.
• This method significantly improves absorbed pump power and output power while lowering the threshold.
• The findings offer a practical approach to optimize Pr(3+)-doped fluoride fiber laser systems.