Tunable quasi-cw two-micron lasing in diode-pumped crystals of mixed Tm{sup 3+}-doped sodium - lanthanum - gadolinium molybdates and tungstates

• Published in: Quantum electronics (Woodbury, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2010-12, Vol.40 (10)
• Main Authors: Bol'shchikov, F A, Ryabochkina, P A, Zharikov, Evgeny V, Lis, Denis A, Subbotin, Kirill A, Zakharov, N G, Antipov, Oleg L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS; CHARGED PARTICLES; CRYSTALS; DOPED MATERIALS; GADOLINIUM COMPOUNDS; GADOLINIUM TUNGSTATES; INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; IONS; LANTHANUM COMPOUNDS; LANTHANUM TUNGSTATES; LASERS; MATERIALS; MOLYBDATES; MOLYBDENUM COMPOUNDS; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS; REFRACTORY METAL COMPOUNDS; SODIUM COMPOUNDS; SODIUM TUNGSTATES; THULIUM IONS; TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS; TUNGSTATES; TUNGSTEN COMPOUNDS; WAVELENGTHS
• ISSN: 1063-7818
• DOI: 10.1070/QE2010V040N10ABEH014403

Two-micron lasing is obtained for the first time on the {sup 3}F{sub 4} {yields} {sup 3}H{sub 6} transition of Tm{sup 3+} ions in diode-pumped crystals of mixed sodium - lanthanum - gadolinium tungstate Tm:NaLa{sub 1/2}Gd{sub 1/2}(WO{sub 4}){sub 2} (C{sub Tm} = 3.6 at %) (3.6Tm : NLGW) and molybdate Tm:NaLa{sub 1/3}Gd{sub 2/3}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 2} (C{sub Tm} = 4.8 at %) (4.8Tm : NLGM). For the 3.6Tm : NLGW crystal, the quasi-cw laser output power exceeded 200 mW and the slope efficiency (with respect to absorbed pump power) for the {pi}- and {sigma}-polarisations at wavelengths of 1908 and 1918 nm was 34% and 30%, respectively. The laser wavelength of this crystal was continuously tuned within the spectral range of 1860 - 1935 nm. For the 4.8Tm : NLGM crystal, the slope efficiency for the {pi}- and {sigma}-polarisations at wavelengths of 1910 and 1918 nm was 27% and 23%, respectively, and the laser wavelength was tunable within the spectral range of 1870 - 1950 nm. (lasers)