Article
Optics
Junfeng Wang, Xiushan Zhu, Robert A. Norwood, Nasser Peyghambarian
Summary: In this study, wavelength-tunable dysprosium-erbium (Dy3+/Er3+) co-doped ZBLAN fiber lasers pumped at 980 nm were developed, achieving a wide range of tunable wavelengths. The experiments showed the potential for individual lasing of Er3+ or Dy3+ in a Dy3+/Er3+ co-doped ZBLAN fiber, with the possibility of achieving a wavelength tuning range from 2.7 μm to 3.4 μm or longer with proper fiber and cavity design.
Article
Optics
Shanshan Ye, Yiqi Chu, Song Huang, Qiaoxia Luo, Shihao Tang, Zhiyu Xu, Hao Liu, Chuchen Li, Chenyun Jiang, Xian Wang, Kai Chen, Wei Zhang, Ronghua Yu, Weiqing Gao
Summary: A passively Q-switched mode-locked (QSML) Er3+-doped fluoride fiber laser with a low laser threshold and high slope efficiency around a 2.8 mu m waveband is reported. The improvement is achieved by depositing bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) particles onto the cavity mirror directly as a saturable absorber and using the cleaved end of the fluoride fiber as output directly.
Article
Optics
Junxiang Zhang, Rui Wang, Shijie Fu, Quan Sheng, Wenxin Xia, Lu Zhang, Wei Shi, Jianquan Yao
Summary: This paper proposes and demonstrates a novel pump scheme for achieving erbium-doped fluoride fiber lasers at 2.8 μm in the mid-infrared region. The scheme efficiently recycles ions on the lower laser level through excited-state absorption, leading to enhanced laser efficiency. Experimental results show promising output performance for high-power, high-efficiency erbium-doped fiber lasers at 2.8 μm.
Article
Optics
J. E. Wu, L. Li, S. Q. Yang, L. P. Li, P. Wang, T. Zhao
Summary: We demonstrate stable pulse generation in a similar to 2.8 μm Er3+:ZBLAN fiber laser by adjusting the population inversion of active ions with an external 1973 nm auxiliary pump source. Stable pulse trains can be obtained by switching on the auxiliary pump source when the 976 nm master pump power exceeds the chaotic self-pulsing stage. The pulse repetition rate can be tuned from 22.47 kHz to 63.98 kHz by adjusting the 1973 nm pump power, resulting in varying pulse widths from 4.47 μs to 1.99 μs. The mechanism of the pulsed Er3+:ZBLAN fiber laser with external gain modulation is also discussed.
LASER PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Chunyu Guo, Jingpan Lin, Ziya Tang, Keyi Li, Lisha Tu, Jiachen Wang, Xing Liu, Shuangchen Ruan
Summary: A detailed analysis of excited state absorption (ESA) transition and its significant role in enhancing the efficiency and energy recycling of 2.8μm Er-doped ZBLAN fiber lasers is performed through numerical modeling. The results show that ESA can be activated by absorbing the 1.6μm signal and significantly elevates the slope efficiency of the 2.8μm laser. The simulation also demonstrates that with the injection of an additional 1.6μm pump, the laser can rely on ESA-induced energy recycling and operate under low pump power.
JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Optics
Chunyang Ma, Mulin Luo, Han Zhang, Pinghua Tang, Jun Liu
Summary: The study investigates the spectral filtering effect on mid-infrared ultrafast Er3+-doped ZBLAN fiber lasers using NPE, achieving a broad wavelength tuning range and an ultra-broadband spectrum with numerical simulations. This research helps understand the impact of spectral filtering on the lasing performance of mid-infrared ultrafast fiber lasers.
Article
Optics
Z. Alphonse Marra, Yi Wu, Fangjie Zhou, Zenghu Chang
Summary: A femtosecond chirped pulse amplifier based on cryogenically cooled Fe:ZnSe was demonstrated at a frequency of 333 Hz, which is 33 times higher than previous results achieved at near-room-temperature. The long upper-state lifetime allows the use of free-running, diode-pumped Er:YAG lasers as pump lasers. 250-fs, 4.59-mJ pulses with a center wavelength of 4.07 μm were generated, avoiding strong atmospheric CO2 absorption. This laser can be operated in ambient air with good beam quality. By focusing the 18-GW beam in air, harmonics up to the ninth order were observed, showing its potential for use in strong-field experimentation.
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Chunyu Guo, Pengsheng Shen, Shuangchen Ruan, Jiachen Wang, Qitao Lue
Summary: We experimentally demonstrate a dual-wavelength pumped erbium-doped ZBLAN fiber laser operating at 2.8μm. The laser is cladding-pumped at 976 nm and core-pumped at 1.7μm. Energy recycling via excited state absorption enables the laser to operate under very low 976 nm pump power. The use of core-pumping scheme with the 1.7μm pump allows for a shorter fiber length and achieves an impressive overall optical efficiency of 33%.
INFRARED PHYSICS & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Spectroscopy
Jianhui Huang, Bo Wang, Weixiong You, Liaolin Zhang, Yijian Sun, Chaoyang Tu, Guoliang Gong, Yao Liu
Summary: The impact of different Er3+ doping concentrations on the spectroscopic properties of YAG single crystals was studied, and it was found that a high concentration of Er3+ is beneficial for achieving 3.5 micrometer laser output.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Haotian Gan, Kelun Xia, Yiming Gui, Xusheng Zhang, Na Zeng, Zhenfei Cao, Xunsi Wang, Shixun Dai, Zijun Liu
Summary: The study found that high-concentration doping improves the laser quality factor, making ZBLAN glass an ideal host material for mid-infrared lasers.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Sergei V. Muraviev, Vitaly V. Dorofeev, Pavel A. Kuznechikov, Artem R. Sharafeev, Maksim Yu Koptev, Arkady V. Kim
Summary: This study successfully demonstrates erbium-doped high purity zinc-tellurite fiber lasers operating at 2.7-2.8 μm, achieving high slope efficiency and pulse energy. By using a low-cost high efficiency diode laser for pumping, it provides new possibilities for practical fiber lasers.
IEEE PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Optics
Wentao Hou, Yanyan Xue, Zhipeng Qin, Huili Tang, Guoqiang Xie, Qingguo Wang, Xiaodong Xu, Jun Xu
Summary: We present the diode-pumped continuous wave and passively Q switched Er:GdScO3 crystal lasers operating at around 2.8 μm. With continuous wave operation, an output power of 579 mW and a slope efficiency of 16.6% were achieved. By employing Fe:ZnSe as a saturable absorber, a passively Q switched laser operation was realized, with a maximum output power of 32 mW, the shortest pulse duration of 286 ns at a repetition rate of 157.3 kHz, resulting in a pulse energy of 204 nJ and a pulse peak power of 0.7 W.
Article
Optics
X. I. N. G. Luo, Y. A. T. I. N. G. Tang, F. A. N. L. O. N. G. Dong, J. I. A. C. H. E. N. Wang, L. I. N. P. E. N. G. Yu, P. E. I. G. U. A. N. G. Yan, J. I. N. Z. H. A. N. G. Wang, Q. I. T. A. O. Lue, C. H. U. N. Y. U. Guo, S. H. U. A. N. G. C. H. E. N. Ruan
Summary: We present a 2.8-μm ultra-short pulse master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) system based on a soliton self-frequency shift from a mode-locked thulium-doped fiber laser. The system achieves an average power of 3.42 W, a pulse width of 115 fs, and a pulse energy of 45.4 nJ. This is the first femtosecond watt-level all-fiber 2.8-μm laser system reported to date. The 2.8-μm pulse seed is generated through the soliton self-frequency shift of 2-μm ultra-short pulses in a cascaded silica and passive fluoride fiber. A high-efficiency and compact home-made end-pump silica-fluoride fiber combiner is used in the MOPA system, enabling nonlinear amplification of the 2.8-μm pulse and observation of soliton self-compression accompanied by spectral broadening.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kaidi Cai, Xin Zhang, Lijie Wang, Yanjing Wang, Huanyu Lu, Cunzhu Tong, Lijun Wang
Summary: This paper proposes a dual-wavelength-clad-pumped scheme to improve the stability and efficiency of a 3.5 mu m erbium-doped fluoride fiber. The results show the possibility of using a laser diode as a pump source for generating a specific wavelength laser.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Optics
Yang Xiao, Xusheng Xiao, Yantao Xu, Shengfei She, Chengzhen Liu, Haitao Guo
Summary: A novel erbium-doped fluoride fiber amplifier scheme is proposed in this study, achieving hundred-watt-level power scaling with a dual-seed cascaded design and a bi-directional pump configuration. By controlling the powers of lasers at different wavelengths, high output power is achieved while effectively reducing fiber temperature.
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Jillian Elizabeth Moffatt, Thomas Bede Payten, Georgios Tsiminis, Thomas Jacob de Prinse, Lewis Da Silva Teixeira, Elizaveta Klantsataya, David John Ottaway, Barnaby Whitmore Smith, Nigel Antony Spooner
Summary: The study explores the potential application of upconversion fluorescence in real-time monitoring of fluorite, achieving a certain research progress by reducing false signals to improve detection thresholds. This technology can detect fluorite at rare earth concentrations as low as one part per million, making it a promising new method for real-time detection.
APPLIED SPECTROSCOPY
(2021)
Article
Optics
Jillian E. Moffatt, Georgios Tsiminis, Elizaveta Klantsataya, Ori Henderson-Sapir, Barnaby W. Smith, Nigel A. Spooner, David J. Ottaway
Summary: This study measured the strength of the energy transfer process of erbium ions in a range of fibers for the first time, providing crucial data for improving the performance of mid-infrared fiber lasers.
JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA B-OPTICAL PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Optics
Matthew R. Majewski, Gayathri Bharathan, Alex Fuerbach, Stuart D. Jackson
Summary: This study demonstrates a mid-infrared dysprosium-doped fiber laser operating at 3388 nm, achieving the longest wavelength reported in this class of lasers with high performance characteristics. The laser shows a slope efficiency of 38% and a maximum output power of 134 mW, significantly improving upon previous attempts at long wavelength Dy3+ fiber laser operation. The wavelength of 3388 nm corresponds to the absorption peak of PMMA, indicating potential applications in polymer processing.
Article
Optics
Nathaniel Bawden, Ori Henderson-Sapir, Stuart D. Jackson, David J. Ottaway
Summary: This is the first mode-locked fiber laser to operate in the femtosecond regime well beyond 3 micrometers, generating 3.5 micrometer wavelength pulses with a minimum duration of 580 femtoseconds, pulse energy of 3.2 nanojoules, and peak power of 5.5 kilowatts.
Article
Optics
M. Z. Amin, S. D. Jackson, M. R. Majewski
Summary: In this study, the F-4(9/2) to H-6(13/2) lasing transition of dysprosium (Dy3+)-doped ZBLAN fiber for yellow laser emission was experimentally and theoretically analyzed. The experimental results showed a lower slope efficiency than the Stokes limit, which was attributed to background loss of the fiber and excited-state absorption of the yellow light. A numerical model was developed to understand and analyze the potential improvements of the fiber laser system, with suggestions for reducing ESA in future Dy3+-doped yellow laser systems through cascade lasing or co-doping with suitable rare earth ion desensitizer.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yuchen Wang, Toney T. Fernandez, Pinghua Tang, Nicola Coluccelli, Stuart D. Jackson, Mario C. Falconi, Francesco Prudenzano, Paolo Laporta, Gianluca Galzerano
Summary: This study comprehensively characterizes the tunable continuous-wave and passive Q-switching laser performance of Dy-doped zirconium fluoride fiber emitting at around 3 μm. The optimal pump wavelengths, fiber lengths, output coupling efficiencies, and cavity parameters are determined, leading to high laser slope efficiency and a wide tuning range. Passively Q-switched laser operation is achieved using a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror, demonstrating stable operation and high pulse energy.
OPTICAL MATERIALS EXPRESS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Tara Dunch, Stuart D. Jackson
Summary: This report reviews the literature on the theory of scattering in transparent glass ceramics (TGCs). The parameters influencing scattering are all interrelated, including the size of the scatterers, the volume fraction of crystals, and the refractive index difference between crystal and glass. By including material dispersion, the theory is extended for low volume fractions of nanocrystals, where Rayleigh scattering is appropriate. The scattering coefficient is calculated for five crystal-glass sets and the results show that material dispersion reduces the wavelength dependence of the scattering coefficient.
OPTICAL MATERIALS EXPRESS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Ori Henderson-Sapir, Nathaniel Bawden, Antreas Theodosiou, Matthew R. Majewski, Kyriacos Kalli, Stuart D. Jackson, David J. Ottaway
Summary: A mode-locked, dual-wavelength pumped 3.5 μm fiber laser using frequency shifted feedback and an acoustooptic modulator is presented. The laser produced pulses of 3.8 ps with an energy of 9.7 nJ at a repetition rate of 37.75 MHz, resulting in a peak power of 2.55 kW. Additionally, an electronically wavelength swept, mid-IR interrogator was developed for characterizing a mid-IR fiber Bragg grating.
JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Optics
Max Whiteman, Stuart D. Jackson
Summary: In this study, we reviewed various theoretical relations for quantifying light scattering and applied them to calculate scattering in transparent glass ceramics (TGCs) composed of nanocrystals within a glass matrix. Material dispersion was included to obtain a realistic depiction of scattering in these materials. The results showed that the different forms of scattering under the Rayleigh-Debye-Gans approximation varied significantly across the visible and near-IR range, and the inclusion of material dispersion changed the trends in calculated scattering cross section.
Article
Optics
Yan Ososkov, Jinho Lee, Toney T. Fernandez, Alex Fuerbach, Stuart D. Jackson
Summary: We demonstrate the high-efficiency operation of a dysprosium-doped fluoroindate glass fiber laser at 3.05 μm, which is pumped at 2.83 μm using an erbium-doped fluorozirconate glass fiber laser. The free-running laser achieves a slope efficiency of 82%, close to the Stokes efficiency limit. We achieve narrow-linewidth wavelength stabilization at 3.2 μm by utilizing a high-reflectivity fiber Bragg grating inscribed in the dysprosium-doped fluoroindate glass. These results open up possibilities for power-scaling of mid-infrared fiber lasers using fluoroindate glass.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jinho Lee, Yan Ososkov, Solenn Cozic, Aymeric Pastre, Remy Bernard, Stuart D. Jackson
Summary: We present a new design for active fluoride glass fibres that uses a metal coating instead of a polymer coating. A chemically fabricated 2-μm-thick silver layer is applied to the periphery of the fiber doped with Dy3+ ions, with coating lengths of up to 20 cm achieved. Using a sensitive fiber Mach-Zenhder interferometer (MZI) with a stabilized He-Ne laser, we accurately measure the temperature rise in the fiber core. Our results demonstrate that the metal coating can reduce the fiber core temperature by up to 22% for low power levels. This work lays the foundation for critical applications of active fluoride fibers where temperature reduction and stabilization are essential.
OPTICAL MATERIALS EXPRESS
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Optics
Ori Henderson-Sapir, Deeksha Beniwal, David J. Ottaway
Summary: This article introduces the current development status and future research directions of 3.5 μm fiber lasers, aiming to achieve higher power levels to meet the needs of industrial and defense applications.
FIBER LASERS XIX: TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS
(2022)
Proceedings Paper
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Nathaniel Bawden, Ori Henderson-Sapir, Stuart D. Jackson, David J. Ottaway
Summary: The study presents the first sub-picosecond pulses from a fiber laser with an emission wavelength beyond 3.0 µm, achieved through nonlinear polarization rotation. The system is modelocked to produce 1.3 nJ pulses lasting 830 fs.
2021 CONFERENCE ON LASERS AND ELECTRO-OPTICS (CLEO)
(2021)
