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Abstract :
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Mid-infrared laser technology is critical to many military and commercial applications, with fiberlasers offering distinct advantages over conventional bulk solid state devices. The SET-224Programme of Work focused on three tasks: (1) Fixed wavelength sources based on rare-earth-dopedfibers; (2) Highly broadband sources based on supercontinuum generation; and (3) Broadly tunablesources based on fiber-pumped nonlinear (χ(2)) devices. The emphasis was on sources operatingbeyond 3 μm, with shorter wavelength lasers considered as pump sources for mid-IR laser or nonlineardevices. Key results include: demonstration of the first Ho:InF3 fiber laser; power scaling of Tm fiberpump lasers; demonstration of efficient lasing in rare earth nanoparticle-doped fibers; a study of fibercoiling and twisting to improve operating efficiency; power and bandwidth scaling of supercontinuumgeneration in fluoride fibers; and investigation of fiber-pumped frequency conversion in OPGaAs andZGP. Task Group activity resulted in several journal publications and conference presentations. Manyrecommendations for future work involve improvements to components or supporting technologiessuch as fiber Bragg gratings or coatings/claddings, to reduce losses and improve efficiency; or to thematerials themselves, e.g. increased doping concentrations and damage threshold. More generally,there is interest in broadening the scope of the activity beyond fiber-based sources, to include anysources that can provide coherent radiation in the mid-IR to support military applications. This broaderscope and renewed orientation to applications is reflected in a new Exploratory Team (ET-113) entitled“Advanced Infrared Laser Component Technology”, and a workshop (SET-267/RWS) planned forFall 2019.
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