Er³⁺-doped Y₂O₃ceramic laser at ∼2.7μm with direct diode pumping of the upper laser level

Abstract

We report relevant spectroscopy and efficient diodepumped ∼2.7‐μ m laser operation of Er3+:Y2O3 ceramic resonantly pumped into upper laser level 4I11/2. This is believed to be the first laser demonstration based on 4I11/2 → 4I13/2 transitions of Er3+ in Y2O3. (© 2010 by Astro Ltd., Published exclusively by WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA)

Efficient cryo-cooled 2.7-μm Er3+:Y2O3 ceramic laser with direct diode pumping of the upper laser level

“…Recently we have identified the Er 3+ :Y 2 O 3 material as the most suitable for power-scalable 4 I 11/2 → 4 I 13/2 laser operation [6], because it has one of the lowest maximum phonon energies among the oxide laser hosts, Ω max = 591 cm −1 [7], (∼ 6 phonons per 4 I 11/2 -4 I 13/2 energy gap of ΔE ≈ 3500 cm −1 ). Due to the lowest maximum phonon energy the Er 3+ 4 I 11/2 level lifetime in Y 2 O 3 is the longest, to the best of our knowledge, among known Er 3+ -doped oxide laser crystals.…”

“…High thermal conductivity is critically important for power scaling of 3-μm Er-doped lasers with 0.97 -0.98-μm pumping due to large quantum defect of this laser scheme, nearly 70%, and, hence, significant heat deposition associated with laser power scaling. [6]. Presented here are the results of first cryogenically-cooled, diode-pumped into upper laser level, performance of the ∼ 2.7-μm Er 3+ :Y 2 O 3 ceramic laser.…”

Resonantly pumped continuous wave Er:YAP laser

“…Crystals with Er 3+ doping are attractive active materials for such developments [4][5]. Although YAG is an excellent host for Er lasers operating 1.64 and 2.70 µm [6][7][8], other crystal hosts were also employed for resonantly pumped Er laser action in the 1500-1700 nm emission wavelength band [9]. Jelínková [14].…”

1645 nm Q-Switched resonantly pumped Er:YAG laser

“…Transitions from the 4 I 13/2 to the 4 I 15/2 energy level in Er 3+ are well known to produce emission in the 1.5-1.6 µm region [3][4]. Er:YAG is an attractive laser medium for a hybrid laser owing to its robust thermomechanical properties [5][6][7].…”