Spectroscopy and Diode-Pumped Laser Experiments of LiLuF$_{\bf 4}$:Tm$^{{\bf 3}+}$ Crystals

In this work we report on the 2-mum laser emission of LiLuF4 crystals doped with thulium trivalent ions (Tm:LLF) at different doping density up to 16%. We will present our results regarding growth, absorption and emission spectroscopy, Judd-Ofelt analysis and room temperature diode pumping laser experiments as a function of the dopant density. The best result is 56% of slope efficiency, with a maximum output power of 280 mW. The emission wavelength ranges between 1985 and 2038 nm, exploiting the vibronic emission of Tm in LLF.

[1]  J. G. Betterton,et al.  A power-scaling strategy for longitudinally diode-pumped Tm:YLF lasers , 2005, CLEO/Europe. 2005 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe, 2005..

[2]  A. E. Troshin,et al.  Spectroscopy and laser properties of Tm3+:KY(WO4)2 crystal , 2007 .

[3]  M. Mond,et al.  Efficient tunable laser operation of diode- pumped Yb,Tm:KY(WO4)2 around 1.9 μm , 2002 .

[4]  T. Thevar,et al.  Diode-pumped, continuous-wave Tm:YAIO3 laser. , 2006, Applied optics.

[5]  Sylvain Girard,et al.  Energy-transfer processes in Yb:Tm-doped KY 3 F 10 , LiYF 4 , and BaY 2 F 8 single crystals for laser operation at 1.5 and 2.3 μm , 2000 .

[6]  B. Judd,et al.  OPTICAL ABSORPTION INTENSITIES OF RARE-EARTH IONS , 1962 .

[7]  G. G. Stokes "J." , 1890, The New Yale Book of Quotations.

[8]  G. S. Ofelt Intensities of Crystal Spectra of Rare‐Earth Ions , 1962 .

[9]  Gianluca Galzerano,et al.  Widely tunable 1.94-microm Tm:BaY2F8 laser. , 2005, Optics letters.

[10]  I. Elder,et al.  Lasing in diode-pumped Tm:YAP, Tm,Ho:YAP and Tm,Ho:YLF , 1998 .

[11]  Lloyd L. Chase,et al.  Infrared cross-section measurements for crystals doped with Er/sup 3+/, Tm/sup 3+/, and Ho/sup 3+/ , 1992 .

[12]  L. Johnson,et al.  Electronic- and phonon-terminated laser emission from Ho 3+ in BaY 2 F 8 , 1974 .

[13]  M. Schellhorn,et al.  High-power diode-pumped Tm:YLF laser , 2008 .

[14]  A. Kaminskiĭ,et al.  Crystalline Lasers: Physical Processes and Operating Schemes , 1996 .

[15]  R. Moncorgé,et al.  Spectroscopy and cw operation of a 1.85 μm Tm:KY3F10 laser , 2001 .

[16]  B. Aull,et al.  Vibronic interactions in Nd:YAG resulting in nonreciprocity of absorption and stimulated emission cross sections , 1982 .

[17]  L. Eyring Progress in the science and technology of the rare earths , 1964 .

[18]  R. Retoux,et al.  Structure and raman spectroscopy of czochralski-grown barium yttrium and barium ytterbium fluorides crystals , 1993 .

[19]  R. Stoneman,et al.  Efficient, broadly tunable, laser-pumped Tm:YAG and Tm:YSGG cw lasers. , 1990, Optics letters.

[20]  Christian Pedrini,et al.  Optical and scintillation properties of Ce3+ doped LiYF4 and LiLuF4 crystals , 1997 .

[21]  M. Tonelli,et al.  Efficient, diode-pumped Tm(3)+:BaY(2)F(8) vibronic laser. , 2004, Optics express.

[22]  M. Tonelli,et al.  Efficient, diode-pumped Tm3+:BaY2F8 vibronic laser , 2004 .