Resonantly pumped, erbium-doped, GSGG, 2.8 micron, solid state laser with energy recycling and high slope efficiency
US5200966A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 1992 |
| Grant date | Apr 6, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 14, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S2303/00
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A laser system and method for producing a laser emission at a wavelength of substantially 2.8 microns and having a quantum efficiency of at least unity and a slope efficiency of about 36%. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the laser system comprises a laser cavity defined by first and second reflective elements with one of the reflective elements operating as an output coupler; a crystal disposed in the laser cavity and having a GSGG host material doped with a preselected percent concentration of erbium, the GSGG host material and preselected percent concentration of erbium being selected so as to provide a quantum efficiency of at least unity by the .sup.4 I.sub.13/2 +.sup.4 I.sub.13/2 .fwdarw..sup.4 I.sub.9/2 +.sup.4 I.sub.15/2 upconversion process and a slope efficiency of about 36% when the crystal is resonantly pumped; and a resonant pump laser for directly pumping the .sup.4 I.sub.11/2 upper laser state of the erbium with a pump beam to cause the crystal to produce a laser emission corresponding to the .sup.4 I.sub.11/2 .fwdarw..sup.4 I.sub.13/2 laser transition having a wavelength of substantially 2.8 microns.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.