Analysis of blue and red laser performance of the infrared-pumped praseodymium-doped fluoride fiber laser

The laser performance at 491 and 635nm of praseodymium-doped fluorozirconate fiber pumped at 1.01µm and 835nm is described and is interpreted with analytical solutions to the rate equations. Spectroscopic measurements of the absorption and the emission cross sections are presented, and the values are shown to be consistent with the observed lasing performance. The analytical model is shown to be a reliable indication of the optimum length of fiber for operation on the three-level 491nm transition.