Two micron tellurite fibre lasers

David J. Binks, Yuen Hong Tsang, Billy D O Richards, Joris Lousteau, Animesh Jha

Research output: Chapter in book / Conference proceedingConference article published in proceeding or bookAcademic researchpeer-review

Abstract

Glasses based on tellurium oxide (TeO2) are well suited to act as host materials for fibre lasers emitting at wavelengths of 2 μm and greater, the spectral region in which optical absorption in silica fibres becomes significant. In particular, tellurite glass has a phonon energy of 600-800 cm-1, significantly less than both silicates and germanates, which enables transmission of wavelengths as long as 5 μm. This low phonon energy also ensures that non-radiative recombination rates are low and the lifetime of excited states of rare earth (RE) dopants are long. Furthermore, tellurite glasses have high refractive indices which both enables high numerical aperture fibres to be fabricated and results in high absorption and emission cross-sections for RE dopants. These high cross-sections coupled with the high solubility of REs in tellurite glass allow lasing to be achieved using only short fibre lengths. Finally, tellurite glass is more stable thermally and chemically than fluoride glass, another fibre laser host material also transparent in this region.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2011 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe and 12th European Quantum Electronics Conference, CLEO EUROPE/EQEC 2011
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Sept 2011
Event2011 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe and 12th European Quantum Electronics Conference, CLEO EUROPE/EQEC 2011 - Munich, Germany
Duration: 22 May 201126 May 2011

Conference

Conference2011 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe and 12th European Quantum Electronics Conference, CLEO EUROPE/EQEC 2011
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityMunich
Period22/05/1126/05/11

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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