Blue and infrared up-conversion in Tm3+-doped fluorozirconate fiber pumped at 1.06, 1.117, and 1.18 μm

Abstract

We report up-conversion in a fluorozirconate Tm3+-doped fiber pumped by the first and second Stokes components of a Raman-shifted Nd3+:YAG laser. Relative fluorescence in the ultraviolet, blue, red, and near-infrared regions is analyzed as a function of the intensity ratio between the Stokes components. It is demonstrated that side fluorescence in the blue at 480 nm strongly dominates over other transitions when pumping with the two Stokes components. This suggests that high-efficiency blue up-conversion lasing is possible by using this pumping scheme with double-clad, Nd3+- or Yb3+-doped fiber laser pumps.