Page 182 - Handbook of Lasers

Section 1.2
GLASS LASERS

1.2.1 Introduction

The past two decades have witnessed increased activity in glass lasers, in the form of both
bulk materials and fiber and planar waveguides. Fibers, with their long interaction region,
and heavy metal fluoride glasses, with their low vibrational frequencies and hence reduced
probabilities for decay by nonradiative processes, have made possible many new lasing
transitions and operation at longer wavelengths. Upconversion pumping schemes, laser diode
pumping, and double-clad fibers have further extended the ulitization of glass lasers.
Glass lasers and amplifiers have been based almost exclusively on the trivalent lanthanide
ions. Ions and host glasses that have been used for lasers are summarized in Table 1.2.1.
The energy levels, lasing transitions, and approximate wavelengths of lanthanide-ion glass
lasers are shown in Figures 1.2.1(a) and 1.2.1(b).

Table 1.2.1
Host Glass Types and Laser Ions
3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+
Glass Type Pr Nd Pm Sm Tb Ho Er Tm Yb

Oxide Glasses
borate • • •
germanate • • •
phosphate • • •
silica • • • • • • •
silicate • • • • •
aluminosilicate •
borosilicate • •
germanosilicate •
tellurite •

Halide Glasses
fluoroberyllate •
fluorozirconate • • • • • •

Oxyhalide Glasses
fluoroaluminate • •
fluorophosphate • •

Chalcogenide Glasses
sulfide •

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