1 mJ single-rod fiber Er:glass laser for rangefinding

Abstract

We demonstrate a compact Q-switched Er:glass single-rod fiber laser for rangefinding with 1 mJ energy at 1.54 um. Double-pass pumping with 16 W power and 5 ms pulse duration was used. Active medium was enveloped with diffuse reflector. Thus efficient output power operation achieved. Output pulse energy in free-running mode was 12 mJ with a slope efficiency of 16%. Transparent glass-ceramics containing Co 2+ :MgAl2O4 nanocrystals were selected as an optimal passive gate to ensure Q-switching in an operation temperature range and transverse mode selection. The Q-switch mode had steady operation at 1 Hz repetition rate with thermal effects playing no visible role.

Influence of Y2O3 Content on Structural, Optical, Spectroscopic, and Laser Properties of Er3+, Yb3+ Co-Doped Phosphate Glasses

“…Ethanol was used as the immersion liquid. The accuracy of meas 0.02 g/cm 3 . The density (ρ) of the investigated glasses was measured using the Archimedes method.…”

“…The trivalent erbium (Er 3+ )-doped solid-state glass lasers and amplifiers, operating on the 4 I 13/2 → 4 I 15/2 transition, are well-known and reliable sources of "eye-safe" laser radiation around 1550 nm wavelength, which is located within the ultra-low-loss telecommunication window of glass [1,2]. Emission in this wavelength range has a wide range of applications, such as range-finding [3], remote sensing [4], medicine [5,6], optical communications [7,8], and others [9]. However, Er 3+ -doped glasses have a low absorption at 970 nm.…”

Progress in Nd3+, Er3+, and Yb3+ doped laser glasses at Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics

“…Er 3+ ‐doped glass is the only laser gain media that has demonstrated direct generation of laser radiation near the 1.55 μm “eye‐safe” wavelength band at reasonable efficiency . Q‐switched, solid‐state erbium lasers at ~1.55 μm is an “eye‐safer” coherent source for laser sensing, velocimetry, detection of atmosphere pollution, ultrasound imaging, range finding, medical application, and laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) . Properties of Er 3+ ions in different glass hosts have been widely investigated, especially for phosphate glasses.…”

Side diode pumped ultra-compact Er:glass laser

“…In last work we demonstrated End diode pumped ultra-compact Er:glass eye-safe laser 4 . We achieved 1 mJ energy in Qswitched mode using 80 mJ pump energy.…”