Operation of ytterbium-doped silica fibre lasers at specific wavelengths using fibre gratings

Abstract

Yb-doped fibre lasers have been previously reported as versatile, efficient laser sources in the 1 µspectral region. The very broad Stark splitting of Yb energy levels in silica results in wide pump (830 - 1064 nm) and emission (975 - 1160 nm) bands. The emission band includes a number of wavelengths of interest for specific uses; examples include 1020 nm, the optimum pump wavelength for the Pr:ZBLAN amplifier and upconversion laser, and 1128 nm. which has been utilised to pump a Tm:ZBLAN upconversion laser