Glass materials for optical gain media and infrared optics comprising rare earth oxide glass compositions

a glass composition and optical gain media technology, applied in the field of solid-state lasers, can solve the problem of small conversion loss

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-04-07
3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The invention is an optical gain medium comprising a bulk single phase glass. The bulk single phase glass comprises 27 to 50 molar % RE203 and 50 to 73 molar % Al2O3, where RE is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu. The optical gain medium may be used in a manner such that gain is generated by application of light in the wavelength range from 970-990 nm. The optical gain medium may be doped with ytterbium ions or other dopant ions such as Er, Tm or Ho. Gain may be generated by electronic transitions of Yb or other dopant ions such as Er, Tm or Ho.
[0014] In a second aspect of the invention, the invention is an optical gain medium consisting essentially of a bulk single phase glass comprising one or more rare earth oxides, aluminum oxide and silicon dioxide wherein the composition of the bulk single phase glass lies substantially within the heptagonal region of the ternary composition diagram of the rare earth oxide-alumina-silica system defined by points having the following molar percent compositions: 1% RE2O3, 59% Al2O3 and 40% SiO2; 1% RE2O3, 71% Al2O3 and 28% SiO2; 23% RE2O3 and 77% Al2O3; 50% RE2O3 and 50% Al2O3; 50% RE2O3 and 50% SiO2; 33.3% RE2O3, 33.33% Al2O3 and 33.33% SiO2; and 16.67% RE2O3, 50% Al2O3 and 33.33% SiO2. The optical gain medium may be used in a manner such that gain is generated by application of light in the wavelength range from 970-990 nm. The optical gain medium may be doped with ytterbium ions or other ions such as Er, Tm or Ho. Gain may be generated by electronic transitions of Yb, Er, Tm of Ho.
[0015] In a third aspect of the invention, the invention is an optical material consisting essentially of a bulk single phase glass comprising 27 to 50 molar % RE2O3 and 50 to 73 molar % Al2O3, where RE is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu and wherein the glass is formed by casting of a molten material.
[0016] In a fourth aspect of the invention, the invention is an optical material consisting essentially of a bulk single phase glass comprising one or more rare earth oxides, aluminum oxide and silicon dioxide wherein the composition lies substantially within the heptagonal region of the ternary composition diagram of the rare earth oxide-alumina-silica system defined by points having the following molar percent compositions: 1% RE203, 59% Al2O3 and 40% SiO2; 1% RE2O3, 71% Al2O3 and 28% SiO2; 23% RE2O3 and 77% Al2O3; 50% RE2O3 and 50% Al2O3; 50% RE2O3 and 50% SiO2; 33.33% RE2O3, 33.33% Al2O3 and 33.3% SiO2; and 16.67% RE2O3, 50% Al2O3 and 33.33% SiO2, where RE is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu and wherein the glass is formed by casting of a molten material.

Problems solved by technology

The close spacing of the absorption and emission bands in Yb3+ results in small conversion losses.

Method used

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  • Glass materials for optical gain media and infrared optics comprising rare earth oxide glass compositions
  • Glass materials for optical gain media and infrared optics comprising rare earth oxide glass compositions
  • Glass materials for optical gain media and infrared optics comprising rare earth oxide glass compositions

Examples

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Effect test

example 1

Cast REAl™ Glasses

[0046] The cast REAl™ glasses were prepared from mixtures of fine powders of the constituent pure oxides. The oxides were first melted together in a laser hearth. The product of hearth melting was then pulverized, placed in a platinum crucible, and heated in a Deltech DT31FL high temperature furnace to a temperature of 1920 to 1950K to obtain a homogeneous molten oxide. The platinum crucible was then removed from the furnace and the liquid oxide was cast into a mold to produce the glass products. In some cases the mold was heated to allow in-situ stress relaxation of the as-cast glass by slowly cooling the mold. In other cases the glass was cast into a mold at room temperature and could later be annealed at temperatures up to approximately 1100K. Graphite molds were used for the casting operations. Other mold materials that are commonly used in the art of glass making are within the scope of this invention.

[0047] The process of hearth melting and pulverization of...

example 2

Glasses for Optical Property Investigations

[0050] Several hours are required to complete the procedure of casting a REAl™ glass from a crucible. Small glass samples that are sufficient for optical property investigations can be prepared in a few minutes, by containerless melting techniques. Therefore, many of the compositions of glass that were used to investigate the optical properties of REAl™ glasses as a function of glass composition were prepared by the containerless melting methods.

example 3

Yb Optical Properties in REAl™ Glass

[0051]FIGS. 2-5 illustrate various optical properties of Yb3+ ions in REAl™ glass. The ground state absorption spectrum of Yb3+ is shown in FIG. 2. The peak absorption cross section is approximately 2×10−20 cm2, at a wavelength of 980 nm. The absorption peak is quite narrow in a crystalline host material, such as the yttrium aluminum garnet crystals that are used in prior art Yb:YAG lasers. The absorption peak is broadened in a glass material, which facilitates laser pumping by increasing the pump laser waveband that can be used. Thus, Yb:YAG lasers typically use a pump laser operating at approximately 940 nm where a relatively narrow absorption peak occurs, with a much smaller absorption cross section than at the 980 nm peak in REAl™ glasses. The broadened 980 nm absorption peak of Yb3+ ions in a REAl™ glass host have the benefits, relative to prior art Yb:YAG lasers, including that (i) more efficient laser pumping is possible, (ii) inexpensive ...

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Abstract

This invention relates to the use of novel glass materials comprising rare earth aluminate glasses (REAl™ glasses) in the gain medium of solid state laser devices that produce light at infrared wavelengths, typically in the range 1000 to 3000 nm and for infrared optics with transmission to approximately 5000 nm in thin sections. The novel glass materials provide stable hosts for trivalent ytterbium (Yb3+) ions and other optically active species or combinations of optically active species that exhibit fluorescence and that can be optically excited by the application of light. The glass gain medium can be configured as a waveguide or placed in an external laser cavity, or otherwise arranged to achieve gain in the laser waveband and so produce laser action.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0001] This invention was made with government support under contract number DMI-0216324 awarded by the National Science Foundation and contract number F49620-02-C-0028 awarded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The Government has certain rights in this invention.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to solid state lasers that use novel glass compositions, comprising rare earth oxides and aluminum oxide (the REAl™ glasses) doped with optically active species, as the gain medium. It further relates to lasers based on these glass compositions that emit infrared light in the wavelength range from approximately 1000 to 3000 nm through the application of pump radiation at a wavelength of 970 nm to 990 nm, and preferably about 980 nm. It further relates to the use of REAl™ glasses that can be cast in the form of “blanks” that form components of laser gain media and windows, filters, or lenses that tran...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): C03C3/062C03C3/12C03C4/00G02C1/00G02C7/08G02C9/00G02C9/04G02C13/00
CPCC03C3/062C03C3/125G02C2200/02G02C9/00C03C4/0071
Inventor WEBER, J.K. RICHARDTANGEMAN, JEAN ANNHAMPTON, DANIEL SCOTTNORDINE, PAUL C.
Owner 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO
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