Highly efficient 980 nm operation of an Yb3+-doped silica fibre laser

Abstract

Efficient operation of a Yb/sup 3+/-doped silica-fibre laser at 980 nm is reported. When pumped with a dye laser at 890 nm, and with a symmetrical cavity, a lasing threshold of 17 mW launched power and a single-ended slope efficiency of nearly 40% against launched pump power has been achieved. >