Mid-IR Kerr-lens mode-locked polycrystalline Cr2+:ZnS lasers

Sergey Vasilyev; Igor Moskalev; Mike Mirov; Sergey Mirov; Valentin Gapontsev

doi:10.1117/12.2223828

13 May 2016 Mid-IR Kerr-lens mode-locked polycrystalline Cr2+:ZnS lasers

Sergey Vasilyev, Igor Moskalev, Mike Mirov, Sergey Mirov, Valentin Gapontsev

Proceedings Volume 9835, Ultrafast Bandgap Photonics; 98350W (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2223828
Event: SPIE Defense + Security, 2016, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

This paper summarizes recent improvements of output characteristics of polycrystalline Cr:ZnS/Se master oscillators in Kerr-Lens-Mode-Locked regime: 1.9 W average power at 41 fs pulse duration, 24 nJ pulse energy and 515 kW peak power with efficiency of 19% with regards to 1567 nm pump power from linearly polarized Er-fiber laser. A simple design of mid-IR fs Cr:ZnS MOPA enabled power scaling to 6.8 W at 79 MHz repetition rate. This was accompanied by a 2 fold spectral broadening to 600 nm at -10 dB level, pulse compression from 44 to <30 fs, and overall 25 % optical to optical efficiency. Improved dispersion management of the resonator enabled pulse duration of Cr:ZnS master oscillator approaching 2 optical cycles (<26 fs) and 500 nm (27 THz) bandwidth of the spectrum at half-maximum. Further improvements of the optical coatings will result in octave-spanning polycrystalline Cr²⁺:ZnS/ZnSe lasers. In this work we also report on recent progress in spinning ring gain element technology and show new unprecedented output power levels for Cr:ZnSe laser gain media: ~140 W at 2400-2500 nm spectral range and ~32 W at 2940-2950 nm in CW regime of operation. High gain of the spinning ring Cr:ZnSe power amplifier demonstrated in this work may potentially enable scaling up the femtosecond mid-IR Cr:ZnS MOPA up to 70-100W.

Citation Download Citation

Sergey Vasilyev, Igor Moskalev, Mike Mirov, Sergey Mirov, and Valentin Gapontsev "Mid-IR Kerr-lens mode-locked polycrystalline Cr2+:ZnS lasers", Proc. SPIE 9835, Ultrafast Bandgap Photonics, 98350W (13 May 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2223828

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available