Claims
- 1. A system for generating lasing at about 589 nm comprising, a laser pump for emitting a laser beam at about 440-480 nm, a lasing host which includes a fluoroaluminate glass doped with sufficient Pr3+ ions to lase at about said 589 nm, means to pump said beam into said host to excite said ions, and means to mount said glass host proximate said pump.
- 2. The host of claim 1 wherein said glass contains one or more compounds selected from the group of:AlF3 in the range of 25-35 mole %, MgF2 in the range of 2-5 mole %, CaF2 in the range of 12-22 mole %, SrF2 in the range of 9-16 mole %, BaF2 in the range of 8-14 mole %, YF3 in the, range of 6-11 mole %, ZrF4 in the range of 6-14 mole %, LiPO3 in the range of 2-10 mole % and Al(PO3)3 in the range of 2-10 mole %.
- 3. The host of claim 2 containing one or more compounds selected from the group of:AlF3 in the range of 28-32 mole %; MgF2 in the range 3-4 mole %; CaF2 in the range 14-20 mole %; SrF2 in the range 12-14 mole %; BaF2 in the range 10-12 mole %; YF3 in the range 7-10 mole %; ZrF4 in the range 8-12 mole %; LiPO3 in the range 3-6 mole % and Al(PO3)3 in the range of 3-6 mole %.
- 4. The host of claim 1 wherein said glass is doped with said PrF3 in the range of 0.1-10 mole %.
- 5. The host of claim 1 wherein said glass is doped with Pr3+ ions in the range of 0.1-10 mole %.
- 6. The host of claim 2 wherein said glass is doped with said PrF3 in the range of 0.1-10 mole %.
- 7. The host of claim 1 wherein said glass contains little or no Na ions or compounds.
- 8. The host of claim 1 wherein said glass contains NaPO3 in the range of 0.1-5.0 mole %.
- 9. The host of claim 1 wherein said glass contains NaPO3 in the range of 0.1-5.0 mole % in place of a portion of or all of said LiPO3.
- 10. The host of claim 1 wherein said glass is in the form of an optic fiber.
- 11. The host of claim 1 wherein said glass is in the form of a 589 nm lasing glass fiber, glass rod or wave-guide.
- 12. The host of claim 1 wherein the composition of said glass in mole % is 30AlF3: 3.5MgF2: 16CaF2: 13SrF2: 11BaF2: 8.5YF3: 10ZrF4: 4LiPO3 and 4Al(PO3)3.
- 13. The host of claim 12 wherein 0.1-5 mole % of NaPO3 is added thereto.
- 14. The host of claim 13 wherein 4 mole % of NaPO3 replaces said 4 mole % of LiPO3.
- 15. The host of claim 1 mounted in a satellite communication system to lase at 589 nm to generate a bright star reference therein.
- 16. A method for obtaining lasing at 589 nm comprising, pumping a laser beam of about 440-480 nm into a fluoroaluminate glass host doped with sufficient Pr3+ ions to excite said ions and generate the 589 nm lasing.
- 17. A method for increasing emissions of the fluoroaluminate glass of claim 16 comprising heating said glass sufficiently to thermally enhance the 589 nm fluorescence from Pr3+ ions in said glass.
- 18. A method for thermally enhancing a 589 nm fluorescence from Pr3+ ions in the glass of claim 17 comprising heating said glass to 250-300° C. or more.
- 19. The host of claim 1 wherein said glass is doped with PrF3 in the amount 0.1-10 mole %.
- 20. The host of claim 17 wherein said glass is doped with PrF3 in the amount 0.1-10 mole %.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of a provisional application, Ser. No. 60/229,997, filed Sep. 5, 2000.
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Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Naftaly M., Batchelo C. and Jha A.; “Pr 3+ doped fluoride glass for a 589 nm fiber laser” Journal of Luminescence, 2000, V 91, N3—4(Nov), p. 133-138. |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/229997 |
Sep 2000 |
US |