2.9 µm lasing from a Ho3+/Pr3+ co-doped AlF3-based glass fiber pumped by a 1150 nm laser.

Abstract

Ho3+/Pr3+ co-doped AlF3-based glass fibers were fabricated by using a rod-in-tube method based on the matrix glass composition of AlF3-BaF2-CaF2-YF3-SrF2-MgF2-LiF-ZrF4-PbF2. Under the pump of a 1150 mW Raman fiber laser, a 2.9 µm laser was observed in a 19 cm long Ho3+/Pr3+ co-doped AlF3-based glass fiber with an output power of 173 mW and a slope efficiency of 10.4%. Ho3+/Pr3+ co-doped AlF3-based glasses were fabricated to investigate the deactivation effects of Pr3+ ions on the Ho3+:5I7 level. Our results showed that the Ho3+/Pr3+ co-doped AlF3-based glass fibers are potential gain media for ∼2.9µm lasers.