Title :
New mid-IR laser based on an erbium activated low phonon energy crystal
Author :
Bowman, Steven R. ; Searles, S.K. ; Jenkins, N.W. ; Qadri, Syed B. ; Skelton, E.F. ; Ganem, J.
Author_Institution :
Div. of Opt. Sci., Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA
Abstract :
Summary form only given. Important DOD applications require high brightness sources in the thermal band from 4.5 /spl mu/m-5.0 /spl mu/m. To fill this need, we have explored direct emission on the 41/sub 9/2/ /spl rarr/ 41/sub 11/2/ transition in trivalent erbium. To avoid multi-phonon quenching of the mid-IR transition, we have investigated chloride host crystals that possess low energy phonon spectra. A simple end-pumped resonator was utilized for these experiments.
Keywords :
erbium; infrared sources; laser transitions; optical pumping; solid lasers; 4.5 to 5.0 micron; KPb/sub 2/Cl/sub 5/:Er; chloride host crystals; end-pumped resonator; excited states; high brightness sources; intense laser pumping; laser transition; low energy phonon spectra; mid-IR laser; near diffraction limited Gaussian profile; Biological materials; Crystalline materials; Fiber lasers; Glass; Inorganic materials; Laser excitation; Laser transitions; Optical materials; Photonic crystals; Pump lasers;
Conference_Titel :
Lasers and Electro-Optics, 2001. CLEO '01. Technical Digest. Summaries of papers presented at the Conference on
Conference_Location :
Baltimore, MD, USA
Print_ISBN :
1-55752-662-1
DOI :
10.1109/CLEO.2001.948162
