Direct Comparison of Yb^3+:CaF_2 and heavily doped Yb^3+:YLF as laser media at room temperature (original) (raw)
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Yb-doped YLF and CaF 2 crystal laser at room temperature
Optical Materials, 2010
We present an investigation devoted to explore the potentiality, at room temperature, of a heavily-doped Yb:YLF (30% at.) and mildly-doped Yb:CaF 2 (5% at.) crystals as laser gain materials, in quasi-Continuous Wave and Continuous Wave operation regime. In particular, we study the thermal behavior of the samples and their effects on the laser performance. Experimental data are supported by simulations of the thermally-induced effects, where the propagation of the pump source and the laser action in the sample are accounted for. Moreover, the influence of operation at high excitation density in Yb:YLF was investigated, in order to assess its potential impact on the laser performances.
Journal of Luminescence, 2007
Spectroscopic characterization is carried out to identify Stark's levels of Yb 3+ transitions in several fluoride crystals grown either by the Czochralski technique or by the laser-heated pedestal growth method. Yb 3+ concentration dependence of the decay time is analyzed in order to understand involved concentration quenching mechanisms. Laser tests under saphire:Ti pumping are presented for all our materials as well as under diode pumping for Yb:CaF 2 .
High efficiency room temperature laser emission in heavily doped Yb:YLF
Optics Express, 2007
We report the tunable, CW and quasi CW laser operation at room temperature of an highly doped (30% at.) Yb:YLF crystal longitudinally pumped by a fiber coupled laser diode array. The CW output power is 1.15 W vs. an absorbed pump power of 6 W, with a slope efficiency of 31%. In quasi-CW operation (20% duty factor @10 Hz) an output power of 4 W with an absorbed power of 9.5 W, and a slope efficiency of 62.8% were obtained. The tuning range spans from 1022 to 1075 nm. To our knowledge, these are among the best experimental results obtained at room temperature with Yb doped YLF.
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IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 1993
A diode-pumped LPE-grown Yb:KYW planar waveguide laser is demonstrated in a microchip monolithic cavity configuration. Output powers as high as 148mW and thresholds as low as 40mW were demonstrated during continuous-wave operation. Pulses of 170ns duration with maximum pulse energy of 44nJ at a 722kHz repetition rate were generated when Q-switched using a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror.
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Optics Letters, 2004
The growth, spectroscopic properties, and laser performance of Yb:YVO 4 crystal with laser diode pumping are reported. A peak absorption cross section of 7.4 3 10 220 cm 2 at 985 nm, a radiative lifetime of 0.25 ms, and a stimulated-emission cross section of 1.25 3 10 220 cm 2 at 1008 nm for p polarization were determined for the Yb 31 ions in YVO 4 . Continuous-wave laser action of Yb:YVO 4 at 1020 -1027 nm was demonstrated with an output power of 610 mW and a slope efficiency of 49%.
Spectroscopic properties and laser performances of Yb:YCOB and potential of the Yb:LaCOB material
Optical Materials, 2001
We report a highly efficient cryo-cooled eye-safe laser operation of a resonantly-pumped (in-band) Er 3+ :GdVO 4 single crystal. The maximum continuous wave (CW) power of 10.3 W with 84% slope efficiency was achieved at 1598.7 with pumping at 1538.6 nm by a spectrally-narrowed Er-fiber laser. Under the 1529 nm resonant pumping by a commercially available diode bar stack operating in a quasi-CW (QCW) mode, the laser delivered 37 W of output power with 68% slope efficiency. This is believed to be the first reported cryo-cooled Er 3+ :GdVO 4 laser , resonantly-pumped into the 4 I 15/2 → 4 I 13/2 transition.
74% Slope efficiency from a diode-pumped Yb 3+ :LiNbO 3 :MgO laser crystal
Applied Physics B-lasers and Optics, 2003
An optimization of the laser action performance from a diode-pumped Yb3+-doped LiNbO3:MgO crystal has been carried out. In this sense, efficient laser action at 1.06 μm when pumping with a fiber-coupled laser diode at 980 nm has been demonstrated, achieving laser slope efficiencies as high as 74%. The influence of output mirror transmittance on both pumping threshold and laser slope efficiency has been investigated, and the parameters of relevance in laser dynamics (emission cross section and optical losses) have been determined. Under the experimental conditions leading to maximum slope efficiency, the pump power at threshold was 300 mW, and the pump-to-laser conversion efficiency was 40%.
Yb:CaF2 — a new old laser crystal
Applied Physics B, 2009
Here is presented and discussed the history, the spectroscopic, the thermo-mechanical and the laser properties of the new old laser crystal Yb:CaF 2 , of its Sr and Ba isotypes as well as of an Yb and Na codoped compound. It will be shown that Yb:CaF 2 is a very particular luminescent material, in which the laser-active center probably consists of a complex hexameric cluster, that it is the most promising Yb-doped fluoride material for large-scale, high-power and high-energy laser systems and that it can compete in several aspects with the currently used Yb-doped oxide crystals and glasses. The opportunity of operating the crystals at cryogenic temperatures and the recently achieved improvements in the field of femtosecond pulsed laser operation and high peak power laser amplification is highlighted and evaluated.
Efficient 1 W continuous-wave diode-pumped Er,Yb:YAl_3(BO_3)_4 laser
Optics Letters, 2007
We report the spectroscopy and high-power continuous-wave (CW) diode-pumped laser operation of Er: Yb: YAl 3 ͑BO 3 ͒ 4 crystal. Absorption and stimulated emission spectra, emission lifetimes, and efficiency of energy transfer from Yb 3+ to Er 3+ ions were determined. A CW Er: Yb: YAB laser emitting at 1602, 1555, and 1531 nm with output power as high as 1 W and slope efficiency up to 35% was demonstrated.