A compact diode-pumped passively Q-switched mid-IR fiber laser

Summary form only given. Watt-level diode-pumped continuous wave mid-infrared fiber lasers, based on double-clad high-concentration (>10,000 ppm) erbium-doped ZBLAN fiber materials, have been developed in recent years. Compact pulsed mid-IR laser sources based on similar fiber designs are a logical next step. Such pulsed fiber lasers with emission wavelengths in the vicinity of the 3-/spl mu/m mid-infrared water absorption peak are needed for number of medical applications. In addition, in systems that require lightweight and efficient pulsed sources such as for airborne or space borne applications, passively Q-switched designs are preferred over actively Q-switched lasers because of their simplicity, compactness, and relative cost-effectiveness. The presentation describes the first demonstration, to our knowledge, on passive Q-switching of mid-IR rare-earth-doped fiber lasers.