Efficient cladding pump Tm: Ho co-doped fiber laser for operation in the 2.1 microns region
Efficient cladding pump Tm: Ho co-doped fiber laser for operation in the 2.1 microns region
Thulium-doped fibers pumped with 79xnm high power diodes enable a cross-relaxation process to achieve two excited ions for one pump photon, reaching a quantum efficiency up to 200% in the two-micron band. For high power operation at longer wavelengths <2100nm, where the Thulium-doped fiber laser (TDFL) efficiency drops considerable, holmiumdoped fiber lasers (HDFLs) are usually the preferred choice. However, as the Ho3+ ion has no absorption bands where high power diodes are available, TDFLs are traditionally used as a pump source. Therefore, the overall optical to optical conversion efficiency is dependent on the performance of TDFL. This approach also brings additional challenges to the fiber fabrication process as conventional low-index polymers that serve as a pump cladding in double clad fibers cannot be used due to the high absorption of polymer at two microns band and thus, there is a need for an all-glass fiber structure. In this work, we report on the fabrication and laser characterization of a Tm:Ho co-doped fiber in an aluminosilicate host fabricated by using a hybrid gas phase-solution doping technique combined with the MCVD process, where aluminum was introduced into the silica matrix through vapor phase deposition and the rare-earths by solution doping process. The proposed fabrication technique allows more uniform dopant distribution within the fiber core region that helps to achieve a good laser performance. We have demonstrated a free running laser, operating at 2105nm with an output power of <37W and a laser efficiency of ∼56% with respect to the absorbed pump power when cladding pumped by a 793nm laser diode. As evident from the experimental results that the donor-acceptor energy transfer from Tm3+ to Ho3+ ions is working in our Tm:Ho co-doped fiber.
Co-doped fibers, Fiber lasers, Holmium, Laser efficiency, Thulium
Ramírez Martínez, Norberto J.
3c0182fc-1942-4cf5-973f-72e0cafa7fcd
Núñez Velázquez, Martín M.A.
3c102956-ac51-4d02-9fe6-6628557cfbff
Sahu, Jayanta K.
009f5fb3-6555-411a-9a0c-9a1b5a29ceb2
21 February 2020
Ramírez Martínez, Norberto J.
3c0182fc-1942-4cf5-973f-72e0cafa7fcd
Núñez Velázquez, Martín M.A.
3c102956-ac51-4d02-9fe6-6628557cfbff
Sahu, Jayanta K.
009f5fb3-6555-411a-9a0c-9a1b5a29ceb2
Ramírez Martínez, Norberto J., Núñez Velázquez, Martín M.A. and Sahu, Jayanta K.
(2020)
Efficient cladding pump Tm: Ho co-doped fiber laser for operation in the 2.1 microns region.
Dong, Liang
(ed.)
In Fiber Lasers XVII: Technology and Systems.
vol. 11260,
SPIE..
(doi:10.1117/12.2546007).
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
Thulium-doped fibers pumped with 79xnm high power diodes enable a cross-relaxation process to achieve two excited ions for one pump photon, reaching a quantum efficiency up to 200% in the two-micron band. For high power operation at longer wavelengths <2100nm, where the Thulium-doped fiber laser (TDFL) efficiency drops considerable, holmiumdoped fiber lasers (HDFLs) are usually the preferred choice. However, as the Ho3+ ion has no absorption bands where high power diodes are available, TDFLs are traditionally used as a pump source. Therefore, the overall optical to optical conversion efficiency is dependent on the performance of TDFL. This approach also brings additional challenges to the fiber fabrication process as conventional low-index polymers that serve as a pump cladding in double clad fibers cannot be used due to the high absorption of polymer at two microns band and thus, there is a need for an all-glass fiber structure. In this work, we report on the fabrication and laser characterization of a Tm:Ho co-doped fiber in an aluminosilicate host fabricated by using a hybrid gas phase-solution doping technique combined with the MCVD process, where aluminum was introduced into the silica matrix through vapor phase deposition and the rare-earths by solution doping process. The proposed fabrication technique allows more uniform dopant distribution within the fiber core region that helps to achieve a good laser performance. We have demonstrated a free running laser, operating at 2105nm with an output power of <37W and a laser efficiency of ∼56% with respect to the absorbed pump power when cladding pumped by a 793nm laser diode. As evident from the experimental results that the donor-acceptor energy transfer from Tm3+ to Ho3+ ions is working in our Tm:Ho co-doped fiber.
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More information
Published date: 21 February 2020
Additional Information:
All data supporting this study is available at: https://doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/D1179
Venue - Dates:
Fiber Lasers XVII: Technology and Systems 2020, , San Francisco, United States, 2020-02-03 - 2020-02-06
Keywords:
Co-doped fibers, Fiber lasers, Holmium, Laser efficiency, Thulium
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 471855
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/471855
ISSN: 0277-786X
PURE UUID: ba7f3fcf-189c-4159-a8d0-b601772f10f4
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Date deposited: 21 Nov 2022 18:04
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:53
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