The Review of Laser Engineering

Special Issue on Mid-Infrared Lasers with Novel Laser Materials

Special Issue

Laser Review

Preface to Special Issue on Mid-Infrared Lasers with Novel Laser Materials

[in Japanese]

2021 Volume 49 Issue 7 Pages 378-
Published: 2021
Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2024

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2184/lsj.49.7_378

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Mid-infrared (Mid-IR) ultrafast laser has the potential to apply for molecular spectroscopy, biomedical imaging, and novel material processing. Recent progress on novel laser material and pump LD, an ultrashort laser pulse with high power can be directly produced in the Mid-IR region. This special issue introduces the advanced ultrafast Mid-IR lasers with novel laser materials.

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Mid-Infrared Supercontinuum Generation Using 2 μm Lasers Based on Fluoride Fibers

[in Japanese], [in Japanese], [in Japanese]

2021 Volume 49 Issue 7 Pages 380-
Published: 2021
Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2024

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2184/lsj.49.7_380

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We review our mid-infrared (MIR) supercontinuum (SC) source based on ZBLAN (ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3- AlF3-NaF) fibers. The SC is generated in an elliptical core passive single-mode ZBLAN fiber with a Tm:YAP regenerative amplifier which produces 360 fs pulses at the wavelength of 2 μm. The spectrum of the SC spans from 350 nm to 4.5 μm. We characterized the SC pulses using sum-frequency cross-correlation frequency resolved optical gating. We have found out that the stability of the SC strongly depends on the round trip number of the regenerative amplifier. In addition, we were able to generate an MIR SC with a two-stage Tm:ZBLAN fiber amplifier. Such SC sources are suitable for seeding an MIR optical parametric amplifier.

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Kerr-Lens Mode-Locked Tm Solid State Laser with Spectral Broadening Effect

[in Japanese], [in Japanese], Kränkel CHRISTIAN

2021 Volume 49 Issue 7 Pages 385-
Published: 2021
Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2024

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2184/lsj.49.7_385

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In the last decade, the available shortest pulse duration from Tm doped solid state lasers strongly shortened. The shortening was mainly done by developments of new saturable absorbers and laser crystals. We have developed Kerr-lens mode locked Tm:Sc2O3 laser and obtained 72 fs pulses where the spectrum of the pulses is broader than a bandwidth of used gain medium. In addition, we have developed Kerrlens mode locked Tm:Sc2O3, Tm:Lu2O3 combined active gain media laser to overcome gain bandwidth limitation of single gain medium and obtained pulses as short as 53 fs (sub 8 cycle). In the experiment, we have observed unusual spectral broadening effect, which is probably related to intra-pulse stimulated Raman scattering and could enable sub 40 fs (sub 6 cycle) pulse generation directly from Tm doped solid state laser oscillator.

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Development of Mode-Locked Cr:ZnS Mid-Infrared Lasers

[in Japanese], [in Japanese]

2021 Volume 49 Issue 7 Pages 390-
Published: 2021
Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2024

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2184/lsj.49.7_390

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Ultrafast lasers in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) range are attracting much attention because of their potential applications to molecular spectroscopy, biomedical measurement, material processing, and attosecond science. Among various ultrafast laser materials, chromium-doped chalcogenides are especially promising for generating few-cycle mid-IR pulses because of their broad fluorescence spectra. In this article, we review the history of mode-locked Cr:ZnS and Cr:ZnSe lasers and introduce our recent progress in the development of the former. By using single-walled carbon nanotubes resonant in the mid-IR wavelength, we achieved self-starting, mode-locked oscillation and 4.7-cycle pulse generation at a center wavelength of 2.3 μm.

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Development of Diode-Pumped 2.9 μm Er 3+ Doped YAP Laser

[in Japanese], [in Japanese], YAO Weichao, [in Japanese]

2021 Volume 49 Issue 7 Pages 396-
Published: 2021
Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2024

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2184/lsj.49.7_396

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An Er 3+-doped yttrium aluminum perovskite (Er:YAP) is the promising material for a mid-infrared laser at 3 μm spectral region with laser diode-pump scheme. It can operate continuous-wave (CW) mode at room temperature with high efficiency and high output power operation at 2920 nm. Its slope efficiency was as high as 30.6% with the maximum output power of 6.9 W, which is close to the quantum defect limit (33.4%). In addition, we have demonstrated the Q switching operation by passive and active switching method. This new material with simple diode pumping scheme is expected to open the easy access of mid-infrared laser applications.

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Fe:ZnSe Lasers Pumped by Mid-Infrared Er:ZBLAN Fiber Lasers

[in Japanese], [in Japanese], [in Japanese], [in Japanese], [in Japane ...

2021 Volume 49 Issue 7 Pages 402-
Published: 2021
Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2024

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2184/lsj.49.7_402

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We review mid-infrared Er:ZBLAN fiber lasers and Fe:ZnSe lasers pumped by fiber lasers. We developed high-power Er:ZBLAN fiber lasers whose output power exceeds 30 W at 2.8 μm and applied 10-W-level fiber lasers for pumping Fe:ZnSe lasers that cover a wavelength range from 4 to 5 μm. We demonstrated that ZnSe crystals reach their highest potential with a high-beam-quality fiber laser. This laser technology paves the way for the development of powerful mid-IR sources for cutting-edge fields in industry, medicine, and science.

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