Q-switched dual-wavelength pumped 3.5-µm erbium-doped mid-infrared fiber laser

Nathaniel Bawden; Hiraku Matsukuma; Ori Henderson-Sapir; Elizaveta Klantsataya; Shigeki Tokita; David J. Ottaway

doi:10.1117/12.2288081

26 February 2018 Q-switched dual-wavelength pumped 3.5-μm erbium-doped mid-Infrared fiber laser

Nathaniel Bawden, Hiraku Matsukuma, Ori Henderson-Sapir, Elizaveta Klantsataya, Shigeki Tokita, David J. Ottaway

Proceedings Volume 10512, Fiber Lasers XV: Technology and Systems; 105120T (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2288081
Event: SPIE LASE, 2018, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Short pulse operation of fiber lasers operating at wavelengths up 3 micron have been reported in recent years. At longer wavelengths, fiber lasers have only been demonstrated with a continuous operation mode. Short pulse operation in the mid-IR is necessary for utilizing such lasers in laser radars and for medical applications. Our previous numerical work suggested that Q-switching is possible on the 3.5 μm transition in erbium-doped ZBLAN in a similar manner to work demonstrated on the 2.8 μm transition in erbium. In this work we report on initial experimental results of a Q-switched, dualwavelength pumped fiber laser operating on the 3.5 μm transition in erbium-doped ZBLAN glass fibers. Using a hybrid fiber and open resonator configuration utilizing an acousto-optic modulator we demonstrated stable single pulse Q-switching while operating at repetition rates of 20 kHz and up to 120 kHz. The laser achieved a peak power of 8 W with pulse energy of 7 μJ while operating at 25 kHz. Long pulse widths on the order of 1 μs were obtained. The low peak power and long pulses are likely the result of both low gain of the transition and additional losses in the resonator which are currently being investigated. Our latest results will be presented.

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Nathaniel Bawden, Hiraku Matsukuma, Ori Henderson-Sapir, Elizaveta Klantsataya, Shigeki Tokita, and David J. Ottaway "Q-switched dual-wavelength pumped 3.5-μm erbium-doped mid-Infrared fiber laser", Proc. SPIE 10512, Fiber Lasers XV: Technology and Systems, 105120T (26 February 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2288081

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