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Efficient cryogenic near-infrared Tm:YLF laser
Optics Express
|August 10, 2017
Summary
Continuous-wave thulium laser operation was achieved in bulk Tm:YLF at 816 nm with 46% efficiency. Co-lasing at 1876 nm overcame population trapping, enabling potential room-temperature and power-scaled applications.
Area of Science:
- Laser physics
- Solid-state materials
Background:
- Continuous-wave (cw) thulium laser operation at 816 nm was previously limited to ZBLAN fiber hosts.
- Bulk crystalline hosts suffered from population trapping at the 3F4 level, restricting operation to quasi-cw.
- Efficient laser operation in bulk materials is crucial for various applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate cw thulium laser operation at 816 nm in a bulk Tm:YLF crystal.
- To overcome population trapping limitations in bulk crystalline hosts.
- To explore a technique for improved laser performance and scalability.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a bulk Thulium-doped Yttrium Lithium Fluoride (Tm:YLF) crystal.
- Demonstrated laser operation at 816 nm.
- Employed a co-lasing technique at 1876 nm to mitigate population trapping.
Main Results:
- Achieved cw laser operation at 816 nm in bulk Tm:YLF.
- Obtained a slope efficiency of 46%.
- Successfully suppressed population trapping at the 3F4 level through co-lasing.
Conclusions:
- Co-lasing at 1876 nm effectively mitigates population trapping in Tm:YLF.
- This technique enables efficient cw operation in bulk crystalline hosts.
- The method holds promise for room-temperature operation and power scaling of thulium lasers.
