Tunability of laser based on Yb-doped hot-pressed CaF2 ceramics

Jan Sulc; Maxim E. Doroshenko; Helena Jelínková; Tasoltan T. Basiev; Vasilii A. Konyushkin; Vyacheslav V. Osiko

doi:10.1117/12.922241

15 May 2012 Tunability of laser based on Yb-doped hot-pressed CaF₂ ceramics

Jan Sulc, Maxim E. Doroshenko, Helena Jelínková, Tasoltan T. Basiev, Vasilii A. Konyushkin, Vyacheslav V. Osiko

Proceedings Volume 8433, Laser Sources and Applications; 84331P (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.922241
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2012, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

The aim of presented study was an investigation of tunability of diode pumped laser based on hot-pressed Yb:CaF₂ ceramics. The tested Yb:CaF₂ sample was in the form of 3.5mm thick plane-parallel face-polished plate (without AR coatings). The Yb³⁺ concentration was 5.5 %. A fiber (core diameter 200 μm, NA= 0.22) coupled laser diode (LIMO, HLU25F200-980) with emission at wavelength 976 nm, was used for longitudinal Yb:CaF₂ pumping. The laser diode was operating in the pulsed regime (4 ms pulse length, 20 Hz repetition rate). The duty-cycle 8% ensured a low thermal load even under the maximum diode pumping power amplitude 10W (crystal sample was only air-cooled). This radiation was focused into the crystal (pumping beam waist diameter ~ 170 μm). The 145mm long semi-hemispherical laser resonator consisted of a flat pumping mirror (HR @ 1.01 − 1.09 μm, HT @ 0.97 μm) and curved (r = 150mm) output coupler with a reflectivity of ~ 98% @ 1.01 − 1.09 μm. Tuning of the ytterbium laser was accomplished by using a birefringent filter (single 1.5mm thick quartz plate) placed inside the optical resonator at the Brewster angle between the output coupler and the laser active medium. The extremely broad and smooth tuning was obtained. The laser was continuously tunable over ~ 66nm (from 1015nm to 1081 nm) and the tuning band was mostly limited by free spectral range of used birefringent filter. The tunability FWHM was 40 nm corresponding bandwidth 10 THz results in Fourier limited gaussian pulse width ~ 40 fs (FWHM). The maximum output power amplitude 0.68W was obtained at wavelength 1054nm for absorbed pump power amplitude 6W. The laser slope efficiency was 15%.

Citation Download Citation

Jan Sulc, Maxim E. Doroshenko, Helena Jelínková, Tasoltan T. Basiev, Vasilii A. Konyushkin, and Vyacheslav V. Osiko "Tunability of laser based on Yb-doped hot-pressed CaF₂ ceramics", Proc. SPIE 8433, Laser Sources and Applications, 84331P (15 May 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.922241

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available