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Efficient continuous wave and passively mode-locked Tm-doped crystalline silicate laser
K J Yang1, H Bromberger, D Heinecke
1Department of Physics and Center of Applied Photonics, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany. k.j.yang@sdu.edu.cn
Optics Express
|October 6, 2012
Summary
This study demonstrates an efficient thulium-doped oxyorthosilicate (Tm:LuYSiO5) laser, achieving high slope efficiency in continuous wave operation and realizing self-starting mode-locking. The laser system shows promising performance for generating ultrashort pulses in the near-infrared spectrum.
Area of Science:
- Laser Physics
- Materials Science
- Optoelectronics
Background:
- Thulium-doped lasers are crucial for various applications, including spectroscopy and optical communications.
- Developing efficient and versatile Tm-doped laser materials is an ongoing research area.
- Oxyorthosilicate crystal hosts offer unique properties for laser applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate an efficient continuous wave (CW) and passively mode-locked laser using thulium-doped LuYSiO5 (Tm:LuYSiO5) crystals.
- To investigate the laser performance, including slope efficiency and output power.
- To achieve ultrashort pulse generation in the 2-micron spectral region.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication and characterization of Tm:LuYSiO5 laser crystals.
- CW laser operation using a Ti:Sapphire laser as the pump source.
- Passively mode-locking using an InGaAs quantum well semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM).
- Intracavity dispersion management using silicon prisms.
Main Results:
- Achieved a maximum slope efficiency of 56.3% at 2057.4 nm in CW operation.
- Realized self-starting passively mode-locked operation in the 1929 nm to 2065 nm spectral range.
- Generated a maximum average output power of 130.2 mW with 33.1 ps pulses at 1984.1 nm.
- Obtained pulses as short as 19.6 ps with an average output power of 64.5 mW at 1944.3 nm using silicon prisms for dispersion management.
Conclusions:
- Tm:LuYSiO5 is an efficient gain medium for both CW and passively mode-locked lasers.
- The demonstrated laser system offers versatile performance for generating ultrashort pulses in the 2-micron region.
- Further optimization of dispersion compensation can lead to even shorter pulse durations.
