Resonantly pumped Tm doped cyrstalline lasers
AssigneeBAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
InventorsYork E. Young, Evan P. Chicklis
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Abstract
A resonantly pumped, trivalent thulium ion (Tm3+) doped, crystal laser with improved efficiency is disclosed. Embodiments are pumped from the 3H6 ground state manifold to the 1st excited 3F4 state manifold by photons with wavelengths between 1.4 and 2.2 microns and laser wavelengths ranging from 1.5 to 2.4 microns arising from 3F4 to 3H6 transitions ensue, with output wavelengths dependant upon the choice of pump wavelength, crystalline host, and resonator optics.
Claims20
A resonantly-pumped laser apparatus comprising:
- a pump source producing at least a first wavelength of light;
- a coupling to couple said at least a first wavelength of light;
- and
- a resonator receiving said at least a first wavelength of light, said resonator comprising an input coupler/high reflector (HR), a trivalent thulium ion (Tm3+) doped crystal, and an output coupler (OC);
- wherein a laser-generated light source is pumped from a 3H6 ground state manifold to a first excited 3F4 state manifold generating at least a second wavelength of light.
A resonantly-pumped, laser-generated, light source apparatus comprising:
- a pump source producing at least a first wavelength of light;
- a coupling to couple said at least a first wavelength of light;
- and
- a resonator receiving said at least a first wavelength of light comprising an input coupler/high reflector (HR), a trivalent thulium ion (Tm3+) doped crystal, and an output coupler (OC), wherein said resonator is quasi-monolithic having at least one air gap;
- wherein said laser-generated light source is pumped from a 3H6ground state manifold to a first excited 3F4 state manifold by photons with wavelengths between about approximately 1.4 microns and about approximately 2.2 microns, thereby generating at least a second wavelength of quasi-continuous wave light.
A laser system comprising:
- a pump source producing at least a first wavelength of light;
- a coupling to couple said at least a first wavelength of light;
- and
- a resonator receiving said at least a first wavelength of light comprising an input coupler/high reflector (HR), a trivalent thulium ion (Tm3+) doped crystal, a passive Q-switch, and an output coupler (OC), wherein concentration of doping of said Tm3+doped crystal is between about approximately 0.5% and about approximately 24%;
- wherein said laser-generated light source is pumped from a 3H6ground state manifold to a first excited 3F4 state manifold generating at least a second wavelength of light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.