Structural, optical, and spectroscopic properties and efficient two-micron lasing of new Tm³⁺:Lu₂O₃ceramics

Abstract

The structural, optical, and spectroscopic properties of new Tm 3+ : Lu 2 O 3 laser ceramics are studied. The average size of a ceramic grain (crystallite) is found to be 540-560 nm. The absorption spectrum measured in the near-IR region shows that this ceramics can be pumped by commercially available laser diodes at wavelengths of 796 and 811 nm. The high-transmission region of the ceramics in the mid-IR region extends to 7 mm. Investigations of the luminescence spectrum in the region of 1.75-2.2 mm upon laserdiode pumping show strong lines peaked at wavelengths of 1942, 1965, and 2066 nm. Ellipsometric measurements yield refractive indices n » 1.92 at the pump wavelength 796 nm and n » 1.94 at the laser wavelength 2066 nm. Continuous-wave lasing of a Tm 3+ : Lu 2 O 3 ceramic laser at a wavelength of 2066 nm is demonstrated under diode-laser pumping at wavelengths of 796 and 811 nm.

Enhanced ∼2 μm Emission of Tm3+ in Lu2O3 by Addition of a Trace Amount of Er3+

“…The absorption of the Tm 3+ ion in Lu 2 O 3 is around 796 nm and matches well with commercially available GaAlAs laser diodes . In the past decades, Lu 2 O 3 :Tm 3+ realized 2.03–2.10 μm lasers in forms such as CW lasers, Q-switched lasers, mode-locked lasers, and thin-disk lasers. − The laser with Lu 2 O 3 :Tm 3+ has been applied as a hybrid booster, in optical parametric oscillation (OPO), as a pump source, etc. , …”

“…In Lu 2 O 3 , a 9.3 W laser was achieved with 2 atom % Tm 3+ . 10 Further increase in CR efficiency is necessary but is also a challenge.…”

“…Thus, the best concentration must be optimized considering the balance between CR efficiency and quenching. In Lu 2 O 3 , a 9.3 W laser was achieved with 2 atom % Tm 3+ . Further increase in CR efficiency is necessary but is also a challenge.…”

Tm3+:Lu2O3 Ceramic Lasers Pumped near 1200 nm

“…The optical characteristics of a similar Tm 3 :Lu 2 O 3 ceramic gain medium can be found in Ref. [19]. An astigmatically compensated x-cavity was built to investigate the laser efficiency for both pumping wavelengths (1200 nm and 800 nm).…”