Measurement and Modeling of Infrared Nonlinear Absorption Coefficients and Laser-induced Damage Thresholds in Ge and GaSb

Using a simultaneous fitting technique to extract nonlinear absorption coefficients from data at two pulse widths, we measure two-photon and free-carrier absorption coefficients for Ge and GaSb at 2.05 and 2.5 μm for the first time, to our knowledge. Results agreed well with published theory. Single-shot damage thresholds were also measured at 2.5 μm and agreed well with modeled thresholds using experimentally determined parameters including nonlinear absorption coefficients and temperature dependent linear absorption. The damage threshold for a single-layer Al2O3 anti-reflective coating on Ge was 55% or 35% lower than the uncoated threshold for picosecond or nanosecond pulses, respectively

Spectroscopic analogy approach in selective search for new Ce3+-activated all-solid-state tunable ultraviolet laser materials

Recent progress made with Ce3+-activated materials offers numerous advantages with respect to other traditional sources of tunable ultraviolet (UV) radiation; so there is a strong incentive for further aimed searches for new Ce3+-activated materials capable of lasing with wider continuous UV tunability using all-solid-state direct UV pumping. Here we report the spectroscopic analogy approach for further aimed searches derived from the analysis of known laser materials. We also report the results of our test investigation, based on the suggested approach, where Ce3+-activated SrAlF5 is spectroscopically characterized as a promising all-solid-state tunable UV laser material which can be efficiently pumped by a quadrupled Nd laser

Focus issue introduction: Advanced Solid-State Lasers (ASSL) 2014

The editors introduce the focus issue on "Advanced Solid-State Lasers (ASSL) 2014," which is based on the topics presented at a congress of the same name held in Shanghai, China, from October 27 to November 1, 2014. This Focus issue, jointly prepared by Optics Express and Optical Materials Express, includes 28 contributed papers (21 for Optics Express and 7 for Optical Materials Express) selected from the voluntary submissions by attendees who presented at the congress and have extended their work into complete research articles. We hope this focus issue offers a useful snapshot of the variety of topical discussions held at the congress and will contribute to the further expansion of the associated research areas. © 2015 OSA

All-solid-state injection-seeded tunable ultraviolet laser

We report what we believe is the first injection-seeded tunable ultraviolet (UV) laser based on a directly pumped UV-active medium, which combines the usually mutually exclusive properties of narrow bandwidth and high conversion efficiency

Evaluation of Mn\u3csup\u3e5+\u3c/sup\u3e-doped Sr5(VO4)3F as a laser material based on excited-state absorption and stimulated-emission measurements

Excited-state absorption and stimulated-emission measurements of Mn5+-doped Sr5(VO4)3F were made with a pump-and-probe technique. Strong excited-state absorption bands were observed, corresponding to the transitions from the 1E(1D) metastable level to higher-lying singlet levels. The stimulate emission from the 1E(1D) level to the 3A2(3F) ground state is overlapped by a tail of the 1E(1D)→1T2(1D) excited-state absorption band. The cross section of the 1E(1D) → 1T2(1D) transition at 1161 nm is (1.4 ± 0.3) × 10-20 cm2 for E∥c and (2.4 ± 0.5) × 10-20 cm2 for E⊥c. The ratio between the excited-state absorption and the stimulated-emission cross section at 1161 nm is 0.52 for E∥c and 1.82 for E⊥c. Therefore laser emission is expected to be inefficient in E∥c polarization and not to be possible in E⊥c polarization. The crystal field parameters in the cubic field approximation were determined to be Dq = 1134 cm-1, B = 356 cm-1, and C = 2918 cm-1, giving Dq/B = 3.19 and C/B = 8.20. © 1997 Optical Society of America

All-solid-state injection-seeded tunable ultraviolet laser

We report what we believe is the first injection-seeded tunable ultraviolet (UV) laser based on a directly pumped UV-active medium, which combines the usually mutually exclusive properties of narrow bandwidth and high conversion efficiency

All-solid-state injection-seeded tunable ultraviolet laser

We report what we believe is the first injection-seeded tunable ultraviolet (UV) laser based on a directly pumped UV-active medium, which combines the usually mutually exclusive properties of narrow bandwidth and high conversion efficiency

Spectroscopic analogy approach in selective search for new Ce3+-activated all-solid-state tunable ultraviolet laser materials

Recent progress made with Ce3+-activated materials offers numerous advantages with respect to other traditional sources of tunable ultraviolet (UV) radiation; so there is a strong incentive for further aimed searches for new Ce3+-activated materials capable of lasing with wider continuous UV tunability using all-solid-state direct UV pumping. Here we report the spectroscopic analogy approach for further aimed searches derived from the analysis of known laser materials. We also report the results of our test investigation, based on the suggested approach, where Ce3+-activated SrAlF5 is spectroscopically characterized as a promising all-solid-state tunable UV laser material which can be efficiently pumped by a quadrupled Nd laser

Spectroscopic analogy approach in selective search for new Ce3+-activated all-solid-state tunable ultraviolet laser materials

Recent progress made with Ce3+-activated materials offers numerous advantages with respect to other traditional sources of tunable ultraviolet (UV) radiation; so there is a strong incentive for further aimed searches for new Ce3+-activated materials capable of lasing with wider continuous UV tunability using all-solid-state direct UV pumping. Here we report the spectroscopic analogy approach for further aimed searches derived from the analysis of known laser materials. We also report the results of our test investigation, based on the suggested approach, where Ce3+-activated SrAlF5 is spectroscopically characterized as a promising all-solid-state tunable UV laser material which can be efficiently pumped by a quadrupled Nd laser