Abstract
This letter illustrates the design of a novel medium infrared (Mid-IR) laser based on a photonic crystal fiber made of dysprosium-doped chalcogenide glass, Dy3+:Ga5Ge20Sb10S65. In order to perform a realistic investigation, the simulation is performed by taking into account the spectroscopic parameters measured on the rare earth-doped glass sample. The simulated results show that an optical beam emission close to 4400-nm wavelength can be obtained by employing two pump beams at 2850 nm (pump #1) and 4092 nm (pump #2) wavelengths. The pump beams can be provided by commercial quantum cascade lasers. As example, for the pump powers of 50 mW (pump #1) and 1 W (pump #2), the input mirror reflectivity of 99%, the output mirror reflectivity of 30%, and the optical cavity length of 50 cm, a signal power close to 350 mW at the wavelength of 4384 nm can be generated. This result indicates that the designed source configuration is feasible for high beam quality Mid-IR light generation and it is efficient enough to find applications in optical free propagation links, optical remote sensing, and medicine.
Highlights
L IGHT SOURCES operating in the medium infrared (Mid-IR) wavelength range attract strong interest for their potential applications, ranging from lasing to active sensing in the field of medicine and environmental monitoring [1]–[8]
Chalcogenide glasses constitute optimal material hosts, which can be doped with suitable rare earths for the construction of Mid-IR lasers and amplifiers [9]–[14]
A novel pumping configuration optimized for a Mid-IR Dy3+-doped photonic crystal fiber (PCF) laser is proposed for the first time
Summary
L IGHT SOURCES operating in the medium infrared (Mid-IR) wavelength range attract strong interest for their potential applications, ranging from lasing to active sensing in the field of medicine and environmental monitoring [1]–[8]. To the best of our knowledge, neither experimental evidence nor simulated results of high efficiency dysprosium doped fiber laser are reported in literature. The investigation of more efficient pumping schemes is welcome with the aim of fabricating fiber lasers at these wavelengths. Fiber lasers will not substitute, but will complement MQW lasers, as already happened in the visible and near-infrared wavelength intervals. The interest in this kind of source is motivated by the need of diffraction-limited Mid-IR laser beams, necessary in a number of technological challenges as optical free propagation links, optical remote sensing, laser therapy and diagnostics. In addition to the excellent beam quality, fiber lasers provide high-power, broad continuum generation, and ultra-short pulse generation
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