Progress and Prospect of Mid-Infrared Fiber Laser Technology

Yulong Cui; Zhiyue Zhou; Wei Huang; Zhixian Li; Hao Li; Meng Wang; Zefeng Wang

doi:10.3788/AOS202242.0900001

Acta Optica Sinica, Volume. 42, Issue 9, 0900001(2022)

Progress and Prospect of Mid-Infrared Fiber Laser Technology

Yulong Cui^1,2, Zhiyue Zhou^1,2, Wei Huang^1,2, Zhixian Li^1,2, Hao Li^1,2, Meng Wang^1,2,3, and Zefeng Wang^1,2,3、*

¹College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, Hunan, China

²State Key Laboratory of Pulsed Power Laser Technology, Changsha 410073, Hunan, China

³Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of High Energy Laser Technology, Changsha 410073, Hunan, China

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Figures & Tables(27)

Fig. 1. Schematic diagrams of energy level transition of mid-infrared rare-earth-doped ions^[26]

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Fig. 2. Structural diagram of passively cooled all-fiber laser cavity based on fiber Bragg gratings etched in core^[43]

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Fig. 3. Experimental setup of monolithic dual-wavelength pumped Er³⁺∶ZrF₄ fiber laser^[45]

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Fig. 4. Structural diagram of 41.6 W fluoride fiber laser^[22]

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Fig. 5. Structural diagram of Ce³⁺-doped chalcogenide based mid-infrared fiber laser^[57]

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Fig. 6. Structural diagram of black phosphorus Q-switched and mode-locked Er³⁺∶ZBLAN fiber laser^[83]

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Fig. 7. Experimental setup of mode-locked Er³⁺-doped linear cavity fiber laser^[107]

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Fig. 8. Structural diagram of 3 μm femtosecond fiber laser^[109]

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Fig. 9. Structural diagram of three-stage fiber laser system^[114]

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Fig. 10. Schematic diagram of Raman effect

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Fig. 11. Experimental setup of As₂S₃-based 3.77 μm cascaded Raman fiber laser^[130]

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Fig. 12. Structural diagram for InF₃ and As₂S₃fiber cascaded supercontinuum laser^[151]

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Fig. 13. Structural diagram of mid-infrared supercontinuum generation in all-fiber Er³⁺-doped ZBLAN fiber amplifier^[169]

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Fig. 14. Principle of fiber gas laser based on intrinsic absorption transition of acetylene. (a) Schematic diagram of energy level transition; (b) absorption spectrum^[184]

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Fig. 15. Experimental setup of acetylene-filled fiber gas laser based on hollow-core fiber^[176]

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Fig. 16. Experimental setup of ring cavity-based acetylene-filled fiber gas laser^[187]

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Fig. 17. Schematic diagram of carbon dioxide-filled fiber gas laser at wavelength of 4.3 μm^[191]

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Table 1. 0 Progress of mid-infrared fiber gas laser based on intrinsic absorption transition

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Table 1. 0 Progress of mid-infrared fiber gas laser based on intrinsic absorption transition

Gase	Pumpwavelength /μm	Outputwavelength /μm	Pulseenergy /nJ	Averagepower /mW	Slopeefficiency	Year	Ref.
C₂H₂	1.52	3.12, 3.16	6		<1%	2011	[176]
C₂H₂	1.53	3.12, 3.16	760		30%	2014	[186]
C₂H₂	1.53	3.12, 3.16		1120	33%	2017	[188]
C₂H₂	1.530--1.535	3.09--3.21	600	770	16% (pulsed)13% (continuous wave)	2018	[189]
N₂O	1.517	4.6	76		3%	2019	[190]
CO₂	2	4.30, 4.39		82	19.3%	2019	[191]
HBr	1.97	3.98, 4.17		125	10%	2020	[192]

Table 1. Progress of continuous wave rare-earth-doped mid-infrared fiber lasers

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Table 1. Progress of continuous wave rare-earth-doped mid-infrared fiber lasers

Fiber	Pumpwavelength /nm	Outputwavelength /μm	Outputpower /W	Laser slopeefficiency /%	Year	Ref.
Ho³⁺∶ZBLAN	640	2.83--2.95	0.0126	2.9%--4.4%	1990	[27]
Er³⁺∶ZBLAN (77 K)	653	3.41--3.48	0.0085	3%	1991	[28]
Er³⁺∶ZBLAN	655	3.48	0.0085	2.8%	1992	[29]
Ho³⁺∶ZBLA	640	3.9	0.001	1.5%	1995	[30]
Ho³⁺∶ZBLAN (77 K)	890	3.9	0.011		1997	[31]
Ho³⁺∶ZBLAN	532	3.22	0.011	2.8%	1998	[32]
Ho³⁺∶ZBLAN	890	2.93	0.09	52%	1998	[33]
Dy³⁺∶ ZBLAN	1100	2.9	0.275	4.5%	2003	[34]
Ho³⁺/Pr³⁺∶ZBLAN	1100	2.86	2.5	29%	2004	[24]
Ho³⁺∶ZBLAN	1300	2.96	0.18	20%	2006	[36]
Ho³⁺∶ZBLAN	1175	2.95	0.65	43%(optical to optical)	2006	[37]
Ho³⁺/Pr³⁺∶ZBLAN	1150	2.94	2.5	32%	2009	[35]
Er³⁺∶ZBLAN	975	2.8	24	14.5%(optical to optical)	2009	[38]
Er³⁺∶ZBLAN	976	2.824	5	32%(optical to optical)	2009	[39]
Er³⁺∶ZBLAN	976	2.94	5.2	26.6%	2009	[40]
Er³⁺∶ZBLAN	975	2.77--2.88	8--11	12.2%	2010	[58]
Er³⁺∶ZBLAN	976	2.824	20.6	35.4%	2011	[41]
Ho³⁺∶ZBLAN	1150	3.002	0.77	12.4%	2011	[42]
Er³⁺∶ZBLAN	985, 1973	3.5	0.26	16%(optical to optical)	2014	[23]
Ho³⁺/Pr³⁺∶ZBLAN	1150	2.825--2.975	7	29%	2015	[59]
Er³⁺∶ZBLAN	980	2.938	30.5	16%(optical to optical)	2015	[43]
Er³⁺∶ZBLAN	974, 1976	3.44	1.5	19%	2016	[60]
Er³⁺∶ZBLAN	980, 1973	3.33--3.78	1.45@3.47 μm	27%	2016	[44]
Dy³⁺∶ZBLAN	2800	3.04	0.08	51%	2016	[61]
Er³⁺∶ZBLAN	976, 1976	3.55	5.6	26.4%(optical to optical)	2017	[45]
Er³⁺∶ZBLAN	970, 1973	3.52--3.68	0.62@3.68 μm	25.14%	2017	[62]
Er³⁺∶ZBLAN	980	2.824	41.6	22.9%(optical to optical)	2018	[22]
Dy³⁺∶ZBLAN	2830	3.15	1.06	73%	2018	[21]
Dy³⁺∶ZBLAN	1700	2.8--3.4	0.17	21%	2018	[46]
Ho³⁺: InF₃	888	3.92	0.2	10.2%	2018	[25]
Er³⁺∶ZBLAN	976, 1976	3.42	3.4	38.6%	2019	[47]
Dy³⁺/Tm³⁺:ZBLAN	800	3.23	0.2	91%	2019	[48]
Dy³⁺∶ZBLAN	2830	3.24	10.1	58%	2019	[49]
Er³⁺∶ZrF₄	655, 1981	3.46	1.72	31.5%	2021	[63]
Ho³⁺∶AlF₃	1120	2.868	0.056	5.1%	2018	[64]
Ho³⁺/Pr³⁺∶AlF₃	1150	2.866	0.173	10.4%	2020	[54]
Fe²⁺∶ZnSe in silica	2940	4.12	0.0004	0.1%	2020	[55]
Ce³⁺∶chalcogenide	4150	5.14, 5.17, 5.28			2021	[57]

Table 2. Progress of Er³⁺-doped Q-switched mid-infrared pulsed fiber lasers

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Table 2. Progress of Er³⁺-doped Q-switched mid-infrared pulsed fiber lasers

Wavelength /μm	Modulationsystem	Pulsewidth /μs	Pulseenergy /μJ	Repetitionfrequency /kHz	Averagepower /W	Peakpower /W	Year	Ref.
2.8	Active:pulsed pump	0.3	20	100	2	68	2011	[68]
2.8	Active:AOM	90	100	120	12	900	2011	[69]
2.8	Passive:Fe²⁺∶ZnSe	0.37	2	161	0.3	5	2012	[70]
2.78	Passive:graphene	2.9	1.67	37	0.062	5.8	2013	[71]
2.8	Passive:graphene	0.4	6.4	59	0.38	16	2013	[72]
2.79	Passive:graphene	2.1	24	41.2	1	11.4	2014	[73]
2.8	Passive:black phosphorus	1.18	7.7	63	0.485	6.5	2015	[74]
2.78	Passive:Fe²⁺∶ZnSe film	0.742	7.98	102.94	0.822	11	2016	[75]
2.786	Passive:SESAM	2.29	58.87	71.73	4.2	25.7	2016	[76]
2.78	Active:gold mirror	0.127	130	10	1.3	1020	2017	[77]
2.82	Active:blazed grating	0.092	150	10	1.5	1600	2017	[77]
2.76--2.85	Passive:Fe²⁺∶ZnSe	1.89--0.4	27.7	43.8--243.2	5.16		2017	[78]
2.78	Passive:Fe²⁺∶ZnSe	0.52	3.81	127.46	0.486	7.3	2018	[79]
2.8	Passive:SESAM	1.3	8.19	88.6	0.73	0.63	2018	[80]
2.8	Active:AOM	0.056	46	10		821	2020	[81]
2.8	Passive:layered Ta₂NiS₅	1.2	1.64	102	0.168		2021	[82]
3.46	Passive:black phosphorus	2.05	1.83	66.33	0.12	0.9	2018	[83]
3.4--3.7	Gain-switched	1.02	5.29	50	0.265		2020	[84]
3.46	Passive:SESAM	2.47	1.4	58.71	0.063		2021	[85]

Table 3. Progress of Ho³⁺-doped Q-switched mid-infrared pulsed fiber lasers

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Table 3. Progress of Ho³⁺-doped Q-switched mid-infrared pulsed fiber lasers

Wavelength /μm	Modulationsystem	Pulsewidth /μs	Pulseenergy /μJ	Repetitionfrequency /kHz	Averagepower /W	Peakpower /W	Year	Ref.
2.867	Active: AOM	0.078	6.06	40--300	0.72	77	2012	[86]
3.005	Active: AOM	0.38	29	25	0.725	79	2012	[87]
3.002	Active:gain-switched	0.35	21.7	30	0.65	62	2012	[89]
2.95--3.031	Active: planardiffraction grating	0.3--0.41	15	40	0.6	43	2013	[88]
2.93	Passive:Fe²⁺∶ZnSe	0.82	0.45	104	0.047	0.55	2013	[90]
2.93	Passive: graphene	1.18	1.1	92	0.1	0.9	2013	[90]
2.97	Passive: SESAM	1.68	6.65	47.6	0.317	3.96	2014	[91]
2.919--3.004	Passive:Fe²⁺∶ZnSe	1.23--2.35	5.64	96.1--43.6	0.337	4.59	2015	[92]
2.979	Passive: topologicalinsulator Bi₂Te₃	1.37	3.99	81.96	0.33	2.91	2015	[93]
2.97	Passive:black phosphorus	2.41	4.93	62.5	0.309	2.05	2016	[94]
2865.7	Passive: WS₂	0.0017	0.37	131.6	0.0484	210	2016	[95]
2865	Passive:antimonene	1.74	0.72	156.2	0.112	0.41	2018	[96]
2.92--2.96	Self Q-switched	1.54	0.0047	67.8	0.0032	0.003	2018	[97]
2.866	Passive:Carbon nanotube	1.21	0.36	178.6	63.4	0.296	2019	[98]
2.8	Passive:MXene ( Ti₃C₂T_x)	1.04	13.93	78.12	1.09	13.4	2020	[99]
2.92	Gain-switched	0.28	0.22	10	0.054	0.2	2020	[100]

Table 4. Progress of Dy³⁺-doped Q-switched fiber lasers

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Table 4. Progress of Dy³⁺-doped Q-switched fiber lasers

Wavelength /μm	Modulation system	Pulsewidth /μs	Pulseenergy /μJ	Repetitionfrequency /kHz	Averagepower /W	Peakpower /W	Year	Ref.
2.71--3.08	Passive: PbSnanoparticles	0.795	1.51	166.8	0.253	1.9	2019	[101]
2.800--3.095	Active:gain-switched	0.53	2.73	80	0.219	5.15	2019	[102]
2.97--3.23	Active: AOM	0.27	12	20--100	0.125	39	2019	[103]
2.812--3.031	Passive: Fe₃O₄nanoparticles	1.25	0.9	123	0.111	0.72	2019	[104]

Table 5. Progress of mode-locked mid-infrared fiber lasers

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Table 5. Progress of mode-locked mid-infrared fiber lasers

Kind ofdoped ion	Wavelength /μm	Modulationsystem	Pulsewidth /ps	Pulseenergy /nJ	Repetitionfrequency /MHz	Averagepower /mW	Peakpower /kW	Year	Ref.
	2.8	Fe²⁺∶ZnSe	19	0.93	50	0.051	0.049	2012	[106]
	2.797	SESAM	60	8.5	51.75	0.44	0.14	2014	[107]
	2.8	SESAM	25	44.3	22.56	1.05	1.86	2015	[108]
	2.8	Nonlinear polarizationevolution	0.207	0.8	55.2	0.044	3.5	2015	[109]
	2.8	Nonlinear polarizationevolution	0.497	3.62	56.7	0.206	6.4	2015	[110]
	2.8	Blackphosphorus	42	25.5	24	0.613	0.608	2016	[111]
Er³⁺	2.784	Graphene	42	0.7	25.4	0.018	0.017	2016	[122]
	3.489	Blackphosphorus	34600	1.3	28.91	0.04		2018	[83]
	2.8	Nonlinear polarizationevolution	0.215	9.3	75.5		43.3	2019	[112]
	2.8	WSe₂	21	8.4	42.43	360	0.4	2020	[113]
	2.8	Nonlinear polarizationevolution	0.131	3	107	317	27	2020	[123]
	2.8	Nonlinear polarizationevolution	0.126 to0.016	10	42.1		80	2020	[114]
	3.400--3.612	Acousto-optictunable filter	53	1.38	36.23	0.208	0.026	2019	[115]
	2.87	GaAs	24	4.9	27.1	132	0.2	2012	[116]
	2.86	InAs	6	2.79	24.8	69	0.465	2014	[117]
Ho³⁺	2.83	Bi₂Te₃	6	8.6	10.4	90	1.43	2015	[118]
	2.876	Nonlinear polarizationevolution	0.18	7.6	43.1	327	37	2016	[119]
Dy³⁺	2.97--3.30	Frequency shiftedfeedback	33	2.7	89	120	0.082	2018	[120]
	3.1	Nonlinear polarizationevolution	0.828	4.8	60	204	4.2	2019	[121]

Table 6. Progress of mid-infrared Raman fiber lasers

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Table 6. Progress of mid-infrared Raman fiber lasers

Fiber	Pumpwavelength /μm	Outputwavelength /μm	Output power /W	Conversionefficiency /%	Year	Ref.
As₂S₃	3.005	3.34	0.6	39	2013	[129]
As₂S₃	3.005	3.340 and 3.766	0.112	8.3	2014	[130]
Tellurite fiber	2.8	3--5	10	35(2nd)	2015	[131]
Tellurite fiber	2	2--5	45.2@3.64 μm	45.2	2017	[137]

Table 7. Progress of mid-infrared supercontinuum laser source based on non-doped fiber

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Table 7. Progress of mid-infrared supercontinuum laser source based on non-doped fiber

Fiber material	Pumpwavelength /μm	Outputwavelength /μm	Averagepower /W	Conversionefficiency %	Year	Ref.
	1.55	0.8--4.0	10.5	50	2009	[143]
	1.96	1.9--4.3	13	20	2014	[157]
	1.96	1.9--3.8	21.8	17	2014	[158]
ZBLAN	1.95	1.9--4.1	10.7		2016	[159]
	2.0--2.7	1.90--4.25	15.2	50.5	2017	[160]
	1.9--2.6	1.90--3.35	30	69	2019	[144]
	1.9--2.6	1.92--4.29	20.6	54.3	2020	[145]
	1.98	0.95--3.93	10.4	65	2018	[161]
Fluorotellurite	1.98	1.0--3.8	19.6	60	2019	[162]
	1.93--2.50	0.93--3.95	22.7	57.2	2020	[146]
	2.6--3.1	2.4--5.4	0.008		2016	[147]
	2.02	1.90--5.25			2016	[163]
	1.95	0.75--5.10	1.76		2018	[164]
InF₃	1.96	1.90--4.65	3	60	2019	[165]
	2	2.0--4.7	7		2020	[166]
	1.96	0.8--4.7	11.3	66.5	2019	[167]
	1.9--2.6	1.9--4.9	11.8	64.4	2020	[148]
ZBLAN, As₂S₃, As₂Se₃	1.56	1.5--10.5	0.086		2021	[149]
ZBLAN, As₂S₃	1.55	2.0--6.5	1.13		2021	[150]
InF₃, As₂S₃	1.9--2.7	2.00--5.58	0.067	19.1	2021	[151]

Table 8. Progress of mid-infrared supercontinuum laser source based on ion-doped ZBLAN fiber

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Table 8. Progress of mid-infrared supercontinuum laser source based on ion-doped ZBLAN fiber

Pump wavelength /μm	Output wavelength /μm	Average power /W	Slope efficiency	Year	Ref.
2.75	2.6~4.1	0.15	4.5% (conversion efficiency)	2015	[168]
2.8	2.7~4.2	0.49	28.7%	2018	[170]
2.2~3.1	2.70~4.25	1.75	20.5%	2018	[171]
3.0~4.2	3~8	0.002		2016	[172]
2.4~3.2	2.8~3.9	0.41	7.1%	2018	[173]
2.0~3.5	2.7~4.2	4.96	17.2%	2020	[169]

Table 9. Progress of mid-infrared fiber gas laser based on intrinsic absorption transition

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Table 9. Progress of mid-infrared fiber gas laser based on intrinsic absorption transition

Gase	Pumpwavelength /μm	OutputWavelength /μm	Output power	Quantumefficiency /%	Year	Ref.
H₂	1.56	4.4	0.6 kW (peak)	15%	2017	[177]
CH₄	1.064	2.8	9.5 MW (peak)	40%	2018	[178]
CH₄-cascade	1.064	2.8	51.2 mW (average)	65%	2018	[179]
H₂, D₂	1.56	2.9, 3.3, 3.5	0.25 kW (peak)	10% (total)	2018	[180]
H₂	1.56	4.42	1.4 W (average)	53%	2019	[181]
D₂-cascade	1.56	2.86	8.5 mW (average)	42% (2nd)	2019	[182]
H₂	1.53	4.22	131 mW (average)	74%	2020	[183]

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Yulong Cui, Zhiyue Zhou, Wei Huang, Zhixian Li, Hao Li, Meng Wang, Zefeng Wang. Progress and Prospect of Mid-Infrared Fiber Laser Technology[J]. Acta Optica Sinica, 2022, 42(9): 0900001

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Paper Information

Category: Reviews

Received: Oct. 13, 2021

Accepted: Nov. 17, 2021

Published Online: May. 21, 2022

The Author Email: Wang Zefeng (zefengwang_nudt@163.com)

DOI:10.3788/AOS202242.0900001

Topics

laser devices and laser physics

Lasers and Laser Optics

Laser physics

laser manufacturing

Instrumentation, Measurement and Metrology

Table 1. 0 Progress of mid-infrared fiber gas laser based on intrinsic absorption transition

Table 1. 0 Progress of mid-infrared fiber gas laser based on intrinsic absorption transition

Table 1. Progress of continuous wave rare-earth-doped mid-infrared fiber lasers

Table 1. Progress of continuous wave rare-earth-doped mid-infrared fiber lasers

Table 2. Progress of Er3+-doped Q-switched mid-infrared pulsed fiber lasers

Table 2. Progress of Er3+-doped Q-switched mid-infrared pulsed fiber lasers

Table 3. Progress of Ho3+-doped Q-switched mid-infrared pulsed fiber lasers

Table 3. Progress of Ho3+-doped Q-switched mid-infrared pulsed fiber lasers

Table 4. Progress of Dy3+-doped Q-switched fiber lasers

Table 4. Progress of Dy3+-doped Q-switched fiber lasers

Table 5. Progress of mode-locked mid-infrared fiber lasers

Table 5. Progress of mode-locked mid-infrared fiber lasers

Table 6. Progress of mid-infrared Raman fiber lasers

Table 6. Progress of mid-infrared Raman fiber lasers

Table 7. Progress of mid-infrared supercontinuum laser source based on non-doped fiber

Table 7. Progress of mid-infrared supercontinuum laser source based on non-doped fiber

Table 8. Progress of mid-infrared supercontinuum laser source based on ion-doped ZBLAN fiber

Table 8. Progress of mid-infrared supercontinuum laser source based on ion-doped ZBLAN fiber

Table 9. Progress of mid-infrared fiber gas laser based on intrinsic absorption transition

Table 9. Progress of mid-infrared fiber gas laser based on intrinsic absorption transition

Table 2. Progress of Er³⁺-doped Q-switched mid-infrared pulsed fiber lasers

Table 2. Progress of Er³⁺-doped Q-switched mid-infrared pulsed fiber lasers

Table 3. Progress of Ho³⁺-doped Q-switched mid-infrared pulsed fiber lasers

Table 3. Progress of Ho³⁺-doped Q-switched mid-infrared pulsed fiber lasers

Table 4. Progress of Dy³⁺-doped Q-switched fiber lasers

Table 4. Progress of Dy³⁺-doped Q-switched fiber lasers