With its recent breakthrough in terms of output power, the erbium 3-m fiber laser has become an object of intense scientific research and an increasingly attractive tool for medical applications. This paper reviews the research on the erbium 3-m fiber laser since its first demonstration. Its development is seen in relationship to the early success of the corresponding crystal laser system, to the foundations that were laid by the investigation of its spectroscopy and population mechanisms, and the recent technological developments in related fields.

Index Terms-Diode-pumped lasers, infrared lasers, laser biomedical applications, optical fiber lasers, rare earth lasers.