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UVC upconversion emission is observed in a LiYF 4 :Pr 3+ microcrystal under sunlight excitation. The dependence of UVC UC emission intensity on the excitation density of a 488 nm laser and sunlight is investigated. The obtained data indicates that two-photon processes play an important role in UVC UC emission. The UVC UC mechanisms of Pr 3+ under the excitation of a laser and sunlight are presented and discussed. The UVC emission under sunlight excitation has broad prospects for application.

We computationally investigate cascaded amplification in a three-level mid-infrared (IR) Pr(3+)-doped chalcogenide fiber amplifier. The overlap of the cross-sections in the transitions (3)H(6)→(3)H(5) and (3)H(5)→(3)H(4) enable both transitions to simultaneously amplify a single wavelength in the range between 4.25 μm and 4.55 μm. High gain and low noise are achieved simultaneously if the signal is at 4.5 μm. We show that 45% of pump power that is injected at 2 μm can be shifted to 4.5 μm. The efficiency of using a mid-IR fiber amplifier is higher than what can be achieved by using mid-IR supercontinuum generation, which has been estimated at 25%. This mid-IR fiber amplifier can be used in conjunction with quantum cascade lasers to obtain a tunable, high-power mid-IR source.

With a 980 nm laser diode pumping, the 2.7 µm emission and energy transfer processes of Er3+/Pr3+ codoped germanium-gallium-bismuthate glasses have been investigated. For Er3+ (1 mol. %) and Pr3+ (1 mol. %) molar concentrations, an intense 2.7 µm emission was obtained based on the high excited-state absorption of Er3+ ions and energy transfer (ET) between Er3+ and Pr3+ ions codopant (ET). The intrinsic lifetime of Er3+:4I(13/2) level is quenched effectively (from 6.85 ms down to 0.24 ms) and the population inversions between Er3+:4I(11/2) and 4I(13/2) levels are enhanced to achieve a four-level energy system at 2.7 µm.

We report an efficient Q-switched Ho(3+)Pr(3+)-doped fluoride fiber laser, producing a peak power of 77 W, with pulse width of 78 ns. A slope efficiency of 20% with respect to the launched pump power was achieved. A TeO(2) acousto-optic modulator allowed continuous tunability of the pulse repetition frequency from 40 to 300 kHz.

We demonstrated a high-power and highly efficient Pr-doped waterproof fluoride glass fiber laser at 522.2 nm excited by two-polarization-combined GaN laser diodes and achieved a subwatt output power of 598 mW and slope efficiency of 43.0%. This system will enable us to make a vivid laser display, a photocoagulation laser for eye surgery, a color confocal scanning laser microscope, and an effective laser for material processing. Direct visible ultrashort pulse generation is also expected., (© 2011 Optical Society of America)

A novel Er(3+)/Pr(3+) codoped germanate glass was fabricated and analyzed. Efficient emission at 2.7 μm from the glass was observed upon excitation of a conventional 980 nm laser diode. The 2.7 μm emission characteristics and energy transfer (ET) were investigated. Population inversions between ⁴I(13/2) and ⁴I(11/2) levels have been achieved, and an enhanced emission from 2550 to 2800 nm was obtained. Large ET efficiency of 95% indicates that the ET process from Er(3+) to Pr(3+) (⁴I(13/2), ³H₄)→(⁴I(15/2), ³F₃) is efficient and that Pr(3+) can enhance the emission of 2.7 μm by quenching the lower laser level of Er(3+) via ET.

This work reports the intense emission at 2.7 μm in a Er(3+)/Pr(3+)-codoped fluorophosphate (FP) host glass. This FP glass shows good thermal stability and high transmittance around 3 μm. The emission characteristic and energy transfer upon excitation of a conventional 980 nm laser diode are investigated. The prepared glass possesses higher spontaneous transition probability (22.16s(-1)) along with a larger calculated emission cross section (6.57 ± 0.11) × 10(-21) cm(2) corresponding to the laser transition (4)I(11/2)→(4)I(13/2). In addition, the effect of Pr(3+) codoping on the 2.7 μm photoluminescence in FP glass is demonstrated. Hence, the advantageous spectroscopic characteristics of Er(3+)/Pr(3+)-codoped FP glass together with the outstanding thermal property indicate that this kind of glass may become an attractive host for developing solid-state lasers at around 2.7 μm.

A cw Pr(3+):LiYF(4) laser at 639 nm pumped by a high-power GaN laser diode (444 nm) is demonstrated. The highest laser power of 112 mW is achieved with an optical-optical conversion efficiency of 33.5%. Characteristics of this laser at elevated temperatures are also investigated for practical applications such as a laser projector.