Glass 3D printed Er³⁺/Yb³⁺ co-doped microsphere laser for high-temperature applications

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Laser Technology
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• High-temperature lasers are crucial for demanding industrial and scientific applications.
• Traditional fabrication methods for microsphere lasers face limitations in precision and high-temperature performance.
• Erbium (Er³⁺) and Ytterbium (Yb³⁺) co-doping offers efficient upconversion and laser emission properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel all-glass microsphere laser capable of operating at extreme temperatures (up to 700°C).
• To investigate the feasibility of using glass 3D printing for fabricating robust, high-performance microsphere lasers.
• To demonstrate dual-wavelength lasing and characterize the temperature sensitivity of the fabricated laser.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of Er³⁺/Yb³⁺ co-doped microspheres using glass 3D printing with laser direct melting.
• Encapsulation of the microsphere and fiber taper coupling structure using an all-glass 3D printing process.
• Experimental characterization of microsphere properties, Q factor, and lasing performance at elevated temperatures.

Main Results:

• Precisely controlled diameter and rare earth concentration of Er³⁺/Yb³⁺ co-doped microspheres were achieved.
• A high Q factor of 3.1 × 10⁵ was maintained for the glass-encapsulated microsphere.
• Dual-wavelength lasing was successfully demonstrated up to 700°C with a temperature sensitivity of 11.8 pm/°C (300-380 °C).

Conclusions:

• The glass 3D printed Er³⁺/Yb³⁺ co-doped microsphere laser offers an all-glass configuration with enhanced robustness.
• The fabricated laser exhibits excellent high-temperature survivability and stable dual-wavelength lasing performance.
• This technology holds significant potential for high-temperature sensing and laser applications.