Continuous wave and Q-switched infrared erbium laser

Journal Article · Mon Dec 08 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.97285· OSTI ID:7222097

Pollack, S A; Chang, D B; Moise, N L

Upconversion pumping has been demonstrated both experimentally and theoretically to be important in the 2.8-..mu..m /sup 4/I/sub 11/2/--/sup 4/I/sub 13//sub ///sub 2/ lasing transition in a CaF/sub 2/ (Er/sup 3 +/) system. A minimum pump threshold of only 2.8 J with a 1-ms Xe lamp pulse has been achieved in CaF/sub 2/ rods containing 5 mol % of Er/sup 3 +/ ions. A simple theory has been developed to show that upconversion pumping makes possible cw lasing between the /sup 4/I/sub 11//sub ///sub 2/ and /sup 4/I/sub 13//sub ///sub 2/ states even when the lifetime of the terminal /sup 4/I/sub 13//sub ///sub 2/ state is much longer than that of the upper /sup 4/I/sub 11//sub ///sub 2/ state. Semi-cw lasing has been experimentally demonstrated by pumping with six ganged photographic flash bulbs fired in sequence, with each bulb having a duration of 15--20 ms. Lasing at 2.8 ..mu..m lasted for 80 ms, well beyond 10 and 20 ms lifetimes of the /sup 4/I/sub 11//sub ///sub 2/ and /sup 4/I/sub 13//sub ///sub 2/ states. The 2.8-..mu..m CaF/sub 2/ (Er/sup 3 +/) laser has also been Q switched, using a 100-nm thin graphite foil as a shutter.

• Research Organization: Hughes Aircraft Company, P. O. Box 9399, Long Beach, California 90810
• OSTI ID: 7222097
• Journal Information: Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 49:23; ISSN APPLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM FLUORIDES
CALCIUM HALIDES
CHARGED PARTICLES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ERBIUM IONS
FABRICATION
FILMS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
IONS
LASER RADIATION
LASERS
OPTICAL PUMPING
PUMPING
Q-SWITCHING
RADIATIONS
SOLID STATE LASERS
THIN FILMS