Gain boost with synchronized more wavelengths pumps in a solid state laser

摘要

A solid-state eye-safe laser with gain boost by dual-wavelength, synchronized, pumplights. The laser includes a medium (47) doped with ions that emit light (62) at a laser wavelength as a result of the transition of electron energy from an upper energy level manifold to a lower energy level manifold. A first pumplight (56) couples energy into the medium (47) at a first wavelength that excites a first portion of the ions into said upper energy level manifold. A second pumplight (52) couples energy into said medium (47) at a second wavelength that excites a second portion of the ions to a third energy level manifold. A fraction of the ions relax to the upper energy level manifold and thereby increase the gain of the laser (2). The laser may be an erbium crystal laser, using yttrium­aluminum-garnet operating near 1640 nanometers. A second ion, such as ytterbium, may be diffused into the lasing medium (47), and an inter-ionic energy transfer employed to coupled the second pumplight (52) energy to the upper level energy manifold of he laser transition.