Abstract
We propose and demonstrate a broadly wavelength-tunable mode-locked Ho3+/Pr3+-codoped ZBLAN fiber laser operating in the 3 μm mid-infrared spectral region based on a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror. Wavelength selection is realized by rotating a plane ruled grating. The fiber laser exhibits stable continuous-wave mode-locking operation over a wide wavelength tuning range of 34 nm (2842.2 nm~2876.2 nm), with a 10.17 MHz repetition rate and 22 ps pulse duration. Stable mode-locked pulses can be maintained until the launched pump power of 1.25 W. Maximum average output power of 127.7 mW and the corresponding pulse energy of 12.56 nJ are achieved. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a wavelength-tunable mode-locked fiber laser operating in the 3 μm spectral region. Such simple, robust, and versatile mid-infrared picosecond laser source can find various applications in laser surgery, spectroscopy, and nonlinear frequency conversion.
Highlights
Wavelength tunable lasers emitting light around 3 μm have attracted great attention owing to their wide variety of applications in spectroscopy, laser surgery, remote sensing, missile countermeasure, frequency metrology, light detection and ranging (LIDAR), and nonlinear mid-infrared photonics [1,2,3,4,5,6]
By tuning the 4F9/2→4I9/2 transition, 450 nm wavelength tuning range from 3.33 μm to 3.78 μm has been reported in an Er3+-doped ZBLAN fiber laser in the CW operation [16]
We demonstrate the wavelength tuning in a Ho3+/Pr3+-codoped ZBLAN fiber laser that is mode-locked with a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM)
Summary
Wavelength tunable lasers emitting light around 3 μm have attracted great attention owing to their wide variety of applications in spectroscopy, laser surgery, remote sensing, missile countermeasure, frequency metrology, light detection and ranging (LIDAR), and nonlinear mid-infrared photonics [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Efficient laser emissions at wavelengths around 3 μm were demonstrated in Er3+ [7,8,9,10], Ho3+ [11], Ho3+/Pr3+ [12,13,14], and Dy3+ [15] doped fluoride fibers Tunable sources in both continuous-wave (CW) and pulsed operation have been successfully achieved. Wavelength-tunable Er3+-doped ZBLAN fiber lasers operating in the CW regime with a maximum output power of 11 W (2770~2880 nm) [9] and with the broadest tuning range of 160 nm (2670~2830 nm) around 2.8 μm [10] have been demonstrated. Wavelength tunable Dy3+-doped ZBLAN fiber laser with a tuning range of 400 nm from 2.95 to 3.35 μm has been demonstrated [15]
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