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Diode-pumped orange Sm:LiYF4 lasers emitting at 605 nm.
Optics Express
|August 13, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed the first visible orange samarium laser, directly pumped by a blue semiconductor laser diode. This breakthrough enables compact, low-threshold orange and red samarium lasers.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Laser Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Samarium (Sm3+) lasers are valuable for visible light generation.
- Diode-pumping offers a compact and efficient method for laser excitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the first visible orange samarium laser directly pumped by a blue semiconductor laser diode.
- To investigate the performance and spectroscopic properties of Sm:LiYF4 lasers.
Main Methods:
- Direct diode-pumping of Sm:LiYF4 using a 465-nm GaN laser diode.
- Characterization of laser output power, slope efficiency, and threshold.
- Spectroscopic analysis of Sm3+ ions in LiYF4.
Main Results:
- Achieved a continuous-wave orange laser output at 605 nm with 23.9 mW power.
- Recorded a slope efficiency of 9.4% and a low laser threshold of 385 mW.
- Determined a stimulated-emission cross-section of 1.27 × 10⁻²⁰ cm² for π-polarized light.
Conclusions:
- This work proves the feasibility of compact, low-threshold diode-pumped orange and red samarium lasers.
- Direct diode-pumping is an effective excitation method for samarium lasers.
- Further development could lead to practical visible samarium laser sources.
