Efficient laser based on CaF_2-SrF_2-YbF_3 nanoceramics

Abstract

CaF(2)-SrF(2)-YbF(3) fluoride ceramics of high optical quality was prepared, and its absorption, fluorescence, and laser oscillation properties were investigated. Oscillation slope efficiency that was only a few percent lower than that for a single crystal of similar composition was demonstrated under diode pumping.

Origin of light scattering in ytterbium doped calcium fluoride transparent ceramic for high power lasers

“…These ceramics showed laser properties similar to those of a single crystal of the same composition. 18 The process used by Basiev and co-workers is similar to the one described in the very first paper about laser ceramics. 19 The present paper is devoted to the synthesis and the optical characterization of ytterbium doped CaF 2 transparent ceramics for high power laser applications obtained from powders synthesized by a soft chemistry route for the starting material and not from single crystals as in previous works.…”

“…19 The present paper is devoted to the synthesis and the optical characterization of ytterbium doped CaF 2 transparent ceramics for high power laser applications obtained from powders synthesized by a soft chemistry route for the starting material and not from single crystals as in previous works. 18 Indeed, a process from powder synthesis to ceramic should be more appropriate for the production of transparent ceramics on a large scale and avoids the strong uniaxial character of the ceramics demonstrated by Basiev et al…”

Diode-pumped regenerative Yb:SrF2 amplifier

“…Seeded by a broadband oscillator, with a spectrum centered at 1038 nm, a regenerative amplifier with both crystals in the cavity should lead to sub-100fs laser pulses, with the potential for a few millijoules pulses at a high repetition rate. Another way to obtain this very broad spectrum with both crystals is to combine them into one single mixed Yb:Ca x Sr 1-x F 2 crystal or ceramic [12][13][14]. As already demonstrated in reference [13], smooth and very broad spectra can be obtained for example with Yb:CaF 2 -SrF 2 and Yb:SrF 2 -BaF 2 materials.…”

“…Indeed for a 2.6%Yb-doped CaF 2 and a 2.9%Yb-doped SrF 2 , the authors measured about the same laser threshold, the same slope efficiency and the same wavelength tunability. Furthermore, because of the simple cubic structure of these materials, high optical quality ceramics can be prepared [12][13][14][15]. Indeed, laser oscillations under diode pumping have been recently obtained with slope efficiencies not far from those obtained with single crystals of similar compositions [12][13][14].…”

Fluoride optical nanoceramics

“…The maximum differential generation efficiency was obtained for the ceramic sample 4 mm thick, being 26% against 18% for the crystalline sample. 24,25 Analogous laser experiments were carried out 25, 26 with the Ca 0.65 Sr 0.30 Yb 0.05 F 2.05 ceramics. As has been shown earlier, 27 the single crystals of this ternary system repre sent a very prospective laser material.…”