Development of a 1.54µm Yb:Er:glass laser pumped by a Nd:YAG laser
Development of a 1.54µm Yb:Er:glass laser pumped by a Nd:YAG laser
The development of a laser source, operating at the wavelength of 1.54µm, using the scheme of ytterbium:erbium:glass, longitudinally pumped by a Nd:YAG laser at 1.064µm, has been investigated. The first pulsed Nd:YAG laser pumped Yb:Er:glass laser system was successfully demonstrated. This system was operated free-running, Q-switched, mode-locked, and combined Q-switched and mode-locked, all with good output characteristics. A free-running output power of 2.25W in a 3.5ms pulse was achieved, with 13% slope efficiency, and a threshold incident pump power of 37W. Q-switched pulses of 10kW peak power and 60ns width were obtained, using a LiNbO3 electro-optic device. Active mode-locking, using an acousto-optic device, gave pulses of 50W peak power and 70ps duration. Combined Q-switched and mode-locked operation, gave a peak power of 2kW with pulses 85ps wide.
The first cw laser operation o bulk Yb:Er:glass, pumped by a cw Nd:YAG laser, was also demonstrated. Using high reflectivity mirrors an absorbed power threshold as low as 500mW was achieved. An output of 21mW was obtained for 1.05W absorbed pump power. Q-switched, and mode-locked operation, for this cw laser, have also been demonstrated, with good characteristics.
A detailed discussion is given of the design considerations leading to successful laser performance. A rate equation analysis, including energy transfer from Yb to Er, and volumetric considerations, is presented. A detailed study is made of the theoretical aspects of thermal effects, such as lensing and birefringence, and their practical implications, which are an important feature of the laser design.
University of Southampton
Kazer, Andrew
fe83bb46-767a-44bd-ac1c-6f63b6237835
August 1990
Kazer, Andrew
fe83bb46-767a-44bd-ac1c-6f63b6237835
Hanna, David
3da5a5b4-71c2-4441-bb67-21f0d28a187d
Kazer, Andrew
(1990)
Development of a 1.54µm Yb:Er:glass laser pumped by a Nd:YAG laser.
University of Southampton, Faculty of Science, Physics Department, Doctoral Thesis, 187pp.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
The development of a laser source, operating at the wavelength of 1.54µm, using the scheme of ytterbium:erbium:glass, longitudinally pumped by a Nd:YAG laser at 1.064µm, has been investigated. The first pulsed Nd:YAG laser pumped Yb:Er:glass laser system was successfully demonstrated. This system was operated free-running, Q-switched, mode-locked, and combined Q-switched and mode-locked, all with good output characteristics. A free-running output power of 2.25W in a 3.5ms pulse was achieved, with 13% slope efficiency, and a threshold incident pump power of 37W. Q-switched pulses of 10kW peak power and 60ns width were obtained, using a LiNbO3 electro-optic device. Active mode-locking, using an acousto-optic device, gave pulses of 50W peak power and 70ps duration. Combined Q-switched and mode-locked operation, gave a peak power of 2kW with pulses 85ps wide.
The first cw laser operation o bulk Yb:Er:glass, pumped by a cw Nd:YAG laser, was also demonstrated. Using high reflectivity mirrors an absorbed power threshold as low as 500mW was achieved. An output of 21mW was obtained for 1.05W absorbed pump power. Q-switched, and mode-locked operation, for this cw laser, have also been demonstrated, with good characteristics.
A detailed discussion is given of the design considerations leading to successful laser performance. A rate equation analysis, including energy transfer from Yb to Er, and volumetric considerations, is presented. A detailed study is made of the theoretical aspects of thermal effects, such as lensing and birefringence, and their practical implications, which are an important feature of the laser design.
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Kazer 1990 thesis 690T
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Published date: August 1990
Organisations:
University of Southampton, Optoelectronics Research Centre, Quantum, Light & Matter Group
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Local EPrints ID: 404738
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/404738
PURE UUID: 31255e51-afb9-49a4-90c3-bf34481c6141
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Date deposited: 18 Feb 2017 00:24
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 12:10
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Contributors
Author:
Andrew Kazer
Thesis advisor:
David Hanna
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