CW LASING AT 3.45 MU-M IN ERBIUM-DOPED FLUOROZIRCONATE FIBERS

The first fibre laser operating above 3-mu-m is reported here. The host material was a multi-component glass consisting of ZrF4, BaF2, LaF3, AlF3 and NaF (ZBLAN). The fibre core was doped with 1000 ppm of the rare earth Erbium (Er3+). The fibre was pumped at a wavelength of 653 nm, and emitted in the continuous wave mode in the range 3.43 to 3.48-mu-m at 77 K. An output power of 8.5 mW and a slope efficiency of 3% were achieved with an injected power of 0.63 W.