Thulium and/or holmium doped silicated glasses for two micron lasers
A laser glass fiber with a core of the fiber composition, comprising a silicate glass host, one or more glass network modifiers, one or more glass network intermediators, and Thulium ions, Holmium ions, or a combination of Thulium ions and Holmium ions. The fiber emits laser light from 1.7 micron to 2.2 micron.
1. A laser fiber to emit laser light from 1.7 micron to 2.2 micron, comprising:
a silicate laser glass comprising:
a network former of SiO 2 from about 30 weight percent to about 90 weight percent;
a glass network modifier (MO) selected from BaO, CaO, MgO, ZnO, PbO, K 2 O, Na 2 O, Li 2 O, Y 2 O 3 , or combinations thereof, from 5 weight percent to 40 weight percent; and
a glass network intermediator (XO) selected from Al 2 O 3 , B 2 O 3 , La 2 O 3 , or combinations thereof, from 0.5 weight percent to 40 weight percent;
Holmium ions; and
Thulium ions.
2. The laser fiber of claim 1 , wherein:
said Thulium ions are introduced into said glass host as Thulium oxide; and
said Holmium ions are introduced into said glass host as Holmium oxide.
3. The laser fiber of claim 2 , comprising:
Thulium oxide from about 2 weight percent to about 15 weight percent; and
Holmium oxide from about 0.1 weight percent to about 3 weight percent.
4. The laser fiber of claim 3 , comprising:
Thulium oxide from about 3 weight percent to about 10 weight percent;
Holmium oxide from about 0.2 weight percent to about 2 weight percent.
5. The laser fiber of claim 4 , comprising:
SiO 2 from about 40 weight percent to about 80 weight percent;
said glass network modifier from about 10 weight percent to about 40 weight percent;
said glass network intermediator from about 1 weight percent to about 30 weight percent.
6. The laser fiber of claim 3 , comprising:
Thulium oxide from about 4 weight percent to about 7 weight percent;
Holmium oxide from about 0.3 weight percent to about 12 weight percent.
7. The laser fiber of claim 6 , comprising:
SiO 2 from about 50 weight percent to about 70 weight percent;
said glass network modifier from about 15 weight percent to about 35 weight percent;
said glass network intermediator from about 1.5 weight percent to about 20 weight percent.