Abstract

We describe a 90 mW fiber laser based on ytterbium (Yb) to thulium (Tm) energy transfer. The double-clad silica fiber was diode pumped at 975 nm and oscillated around 2 µm. This pumping scheme shows promise for developing high efficiency, robust laser sources in the ~2 µm region that are analogous to the Yb to erbium (Er) silica fiber lasers and amplifiers widely employed in the 1.5 µm region. To the best of our knowledge this marks the first demonstration of a Yb sensitized Tm fiber laser and the first demonstration of a room-temperature laser utilizing a Yb to Tm energy transfer mechanism.

© 2004 Optical Society of America