Efficiency of erbium 3-μm crystal and fiber lasers

Author

Pollnau, M. ; Spring, R. ; Ghisler, Ch. ; Wittwer, S. ; Lüthy, W. ; Weber, H.P.

Author_Institution

Inst. of Appl. Phys., Bern Univ., Switzerland

Volume

32

Issue

4

fYear

1996

fDate

4/1/1996 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

657

Lastpage

663

Abstract

The population dynamics of erbium 3-μm crystal and fiber lasers are compared experimentally and theoretically. Laser slope efficiencies of 40% in Er:LiYF₄ and 23% in a fluorozirconate fiber are experimentally demonstrated under Ti:sapphire pumping. These are both to our knowledge the highest values reported so far for the different host geometries. On the basis of the excitation and loss mechanisms, the best pump wavelengths are determined to be 970 mm in LiYF4 and 791 nm in a fluorozirconate fiber. The theoretical limit of the slope efficiency with respect to absorbed pump power is redefined as depending on the major population mechanisms of the system. Calculated values are 56% in Er:LiYF4 and 27% in a fluorozirconate fiber

Keywords

aluminium compounds; barium compounds; erbium; fibre lasers; lanthanum compounds; laser beams; laser transitions; lithium compounds; optical fibre losses; optical losses; optical pumping; sodium compounds; solid lasers; zirconium compounds; 23 percent; 3 mum; 40 percent; 791 nm; 970 nm; Al₂O₃:Ti; Er:LiYF₄; LiYF₄:Er; Ti:sapphire pumping; ZBLAN:Er; ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF:Er; absorbed pump power; excitation mechanisms; fluorozirconate fiber; host geometries; laser slope efficiencies; loss mechanisms; population dynamics; population mechanisms; pump wavelengths; slope efficiency; Erbium; Erbium-doped fiber lasers; Geometrical optics; Laser excitation; Laser modes; Laser theory; Laser transitions; Power generation; Power lasers; Pump lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.488840

Filename

488840