Development of a highly efficient long-wavelength laser prototype (EHLAP)

Focus topic:	Resource efficiency
Type of funding:	Project funding programmes
Programme:	CZS Prototypes
Funded institution:	Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena

An innovative method for supplying energy to long-wavelength fiber laser systems is expected to significantly improve their energy efficiency. Possible applications can be found in the medical field, industry and in environmental monitoring.

Goals

Long wavelength laser systems are of great interest due to their wide range of applications. Application examples can be found in fundamental sciences as well as in the medical field, industrial applications and environmental monitoring. Due to their high average powers and a very good beam quality, especially thulium doped fiber laser systems are currently very promising.

However, with a conversion efficiency of less than 40%, thulium doped fiber laser systems are energetically extremely inefficient compared to shorter wavelength laser systems with a conversion efficiency of about 80%.

The goal of this project is to develop a working thulium doped fiber laser prototype with high energy efficient conversion and high output power. A suitable excitation wavelength (for example, 1.7 μm) should increase the conversion efficiency by a factor of 2 to 80%. The variation of the pump wavelength could revolutionize thulium-doped fiber laser systems and bring their efficiency to the level of short-wavelength and already established laser systems.