Infrared image studies of diode-pumped Yb/sup 3+/, Er/sup 3+/:glass

Summary form only given. Laser emission at 1535 nm from an Er/sup 3+/:glass laser is very useful due to its eye-safe wavelength and high transmission through fiber optics and the atmosphere. Diode pumping allows for considerably greater quantum efficiency, dramatically decreasing the thermal design constraints. Recent technological advances in the manufacture of InGaAs laser diode arrays have brought commercial laser diodes, in the wavelength range of 900 to 1000 nm, to market from several manufacturers. This wavelength range matches the strong Yb/sup 3+/ /sup 2/F/sub 7/2/-/sup 2/F/sub 5/2/ transition, making it an ideal pumping source for Yb/sup 3+/, Er/sup 3+/ glass. In this paper we report the initial results of experimental studies using an infrared image camera to map the Yb/sup 3+/ and Er/sup 3+/ fluorescence in a side-pumped, Er/sup 3+/:glass laser configuration. Two laser diode arrays of 1 cm length have been used in our experiments.