Abstract
We report on novel upconversion (UC) pumping schemes for 2.3μm thulium (Tm) lasers (the H43→H53 transition) based on a photon avalanche mechanism populating the intermediate metastable level (F43) acting as an effective ground state. The proposed pump wavelengths are ∼1 and ∼1.5 μm, each one corresponding to a resonant excited-state absorption transition F43→F2,33 and F43→H43, respectively. UC pumping at 1040, 1055, and 1451nm of 2.3μm Tm:LiYF4 lasers is demonstrated. In the former case, the laser generates 102mW at 2302nm with a slope efficiency of 14.6% (versus the incident pump power). The laser dynamics is studied. UC pumping is promising for reaching high efficiencies in 2.3μm Tm lasers.
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