title: Passively Q-switched Tm(3+)-doped silica fiber lasers.
abstract: By splicing on a length of Ho(3+)-doped silica fiber onto a diode-pumped double-clad Tm(3+)-doped silica fiber, stable passive Q switching of the Tm(3+)-doped silica fiber laser is demonstrated. The formation of Q-switched pulses was found to depend on both the length and the position of the Ho(3+)-doped silica fiber that was inserted into the fiber laser cavity. For stable Q-switched pulse generation, Ho(3+)-doped silica fiber lengths shorter than twice the absorption depth must be used. For long Ho(3+)-doped silica fiber lengths, randomly generated pulses are observed at operating wavelengths longer than 2090 nm, which are attributed to intracavity pumping of the Ho(3+)-doped silica fiber.
authors.affiliation: Optical Fiber Technology Centre, The University of Sydney, 1430 Eveleigh, Sydney, Australia. s.jackson@oftc.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Stuart D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Jackson