Gain-switched Fe:ZnSe laser pumped by a coupled-cavity Q-switched Er:ZrF4 fiber laser

We report on a gain-switched operation of single-crystal Fe2+:ZnSe pumped by a coupled-cavity Q-switched Er3+:ZrF4 fiber laser. With this approach, we use a continu-ous wave Er-doped ZrF4 fiber laser whose cavity is coupled with the Fe:ZnSe laser cavity. A stable Q switching opera-tion of the Er-doped fiber laser was achieved in this case and, as a result, a gain-switched operation of the Fe:ZnSe laser was obtained. The highest repetition rate was 79 kHz, the pulse duration of the pump Er-doped laser was similar to 1.6 mu s, and the pulse duration of the Fe:ZnSe was 62 ns. The maximum output power achieved from gain-switched Fe:ZnSe was 63 mW. (c) 2023 Optica Publishing Group

Automated summary

We demonstrate the gain-switched operation of a single-crystal Fe2+:ZnSe laser pumped by a coupled-cavity Q-switched Er3+:ZrF4 fiber laser. By coupling the cavity of the Er-doped fiber laser with the Fe:ZnSe laser cavity, stable Q-switching of the Er-doped fiber laser is achieved, resulting in gain-switching of the Fe:ZnSe laser. The maximum output power achieved from the gain-switched Fe:ZnSe laser is 63 mW, with a repetition rate of 79 kHz and pulse durations of 1.6 μs for the pump Er-doped laser and 62 ns for the Fe:ZnSe laser.