X. Y. Zhang

Comparison of c-Nd:YVO4/YVO4 raman lasers and c-Nd:YVO4 self-Raman lasers

Raman lasers based on c-Nd:YVO4 crystals can generate 1178 nm Stokes line, which can be frequency-doubled to realize 589 nm sodium lasers. We make comparative experimental studies of c-Nd:YVO4/YVO4 Raman lasers and c-Nd:YVO4 self-Raman lasers. About these two kinds of lasers, the output characteristics of power, center wavelength and beam quality are measured and compared.

Directly LD-pumped passively Q-switched YVO4-Nd:YVO4 laser at 1.34 μm with a V3+: YAG saturable absorber

The performance of a directly LD-pumped passively Q-switched YVO4-Nd:YVO4 laser at 1.34 μm with a V3+:YAG saturable absorber was demonstrated for the first time to the best of our knowledge. The average output power of 580 mW was obtained at the pump power of 8.8 W, corresponding to the optical conversion efficiency of 6.6% and slope efficiency of 11%. The minimum pulse width was 280 ns with the pulse repetition rate of 230 kHz, which was attained with a T = 5.6% output coupler at the pump power of 8.8 W.

High power and highly efficient Nd:YAG laser emitting at 1123 nm

A diode-end-pumped continuous-wave (CW) Nd:YAG laser emitting at 1123 nm is realized efficiently in a 25-mm-long cavity. A composite Nd:YAG (cNd:YAG) crystal is selected as the gain medium. With an incident diode power of 26.1 W, an output power of up to 9.3 W is obtained, corresponding to an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 35.6%. The laser performances at 1123 nm are compared between composite Nd:YAG and common Nd:YAG crystals. The results show that composite Nd:YAG is a better choice for 1123-nm laser generations.

LD side-pumped Nd:GGG CW laser operating at 1110 and 1105 nm dual wavelengths and 1110 nm single wavelength

A diode-side-pumped continuous-wave Nd:GGG laser operating at dual-wavelength (1110 and 1105 nm) and single wavelength of 1110 nm is demonstrated for the first time. The maximum output power of the 1110 and 1105 nm dual-wavelength operation is 13.2 W. By adjusting the orientation of an insertion mirror, the relative intensities of the two wavelengths can be changed. Thus single wavelength operation at 1110 nm is obtained, and the output power is 9.6 W.

Optical parameters and upconversion fluorescence in Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped tellurite glass

Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped tellurite glass has been prepared. Density, refractive index, optical absorption, Judd-Ofelt parameters and spontaneous transition probabilities of Tm3+ have been measured and calculated, respectively. Intense blue three-photon upconversion fluorescence and S-band (1470 nm) fluorescence were investigated under the excitation of a 980 nm diode laser at room temperature. Judd-Ofelt parameters, strong blue three-photon upcoversion emission of Tm3+ in glass indicate that Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped tellurite glass is a promising blue color upconversion optical and laser material. In addition, experiment results showed the 980 nm laser was more efficient than 808 nm laser when pumping Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped tellurite glass, Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped tellurite glass also could be a promising material for S-band amplification.

A fiber bragg grating acceleration sensor interrogated by a DFB laser diode

A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) acceleration sensor interrogated by a DFB laser diode is demonstrated; the sensor is fabricated by packaging a FBG on to a cantilever; the interrogation scheme takes advantage of the intensity modulation of the narrow spectral bandwidth light of a distributed feedback laser diode, when the reflection spectrum curve of a FBG moves due to the strain which is applied on the sensor. The sensor’s response to the frequency and acceleration is measured by the experiment, and the factors which have an impact on the sensor’s sensitivity are also discussed.

Experiments with an intracavity BaTeMo2O9 Raman laser

A diode-side-pumped actively Q-switched intracavity Raman laser emitting at 1178 nm employing Nd:YAG as the gain medium and BaTeMo2O9 as the Raman medium is realized. With a pump power of 115 W and pulse repetition rate of 10 kHz, a maximum first-Stokes output power of 1.9 W is obtained. The corresponding diode-to-first-Stokes conversion efficiency is 1.7% and the first-Stokes pulse width is 35 ns. The preliminary experiments proved that an intracavity BaTeMo2O9 Raman laser is feasible.

Properties of continuous-wave 1123 nm laser with diode-side-pumped Nd:YAG

Laser properties of diode-side-pumped Nd:YAG laser operating at 1123 nm are demonstrated. A 1.0 at % Nd-doped Nd:YAG rod with a size of Ø3 × 63 mm2 is used as the active medium. Both radial and tangential thermal focal lengths of this side-pumped Nd:YAG rod are determined under lasing condition. The results show that the bifocusing strength of 1123 nm laser is larger than that of 1164 nm laser, and 1123-nm thermal focal lengths are shorter than those of 1064-nm laser due to higher quantum defect. Laser output performances of 1123 nm in terms of stability, output power and beam quality influenced by pump power at different cavity lengths are also discussed with a convex-piano cavity.

Compact and efficient diode-pumped actively Q-switched 1319 nm Nd:YAG ceramic laser

An efficient compact diode-pumped acousto-optic actively Q-switched Nd:YAG ceramic laser operating at 1319 nm was demonstrated. At an incident pump power of 23.7 W, an average output power of 4.8 W at a pulse repetition frequency of 30 kHz was obtained. The corresponding optical-to-optical conversion efficiency was 20.3%. A maximum single pulse energy of 316 μJ with a pulse duration of 78.5 ns was obtained at an incident pump power of 19.4 W and a pulse repetition frequency of 10 kHz.

Eye-safe Raman laser at 1532 nm with BaWO4 crystal

A diode-end-pumped actively Q-switched eye-safe intracavity Raman laser at 1532 nm is demonstrated, with Nd:YVO4 as the laser crystal and BaWO4 as the Raman crystal. The highest average power of 1.5 W is obtained, with an incident pump of 12 W and a pulse repetition rate of 35 kHz, corresponding to a diode-to-Stokes conversion efficiency of 12.5%.