A solid-state laser system includes a gain medium having an optical resonator defined therein. The gain medium is co-doped with first and second active elements. The first active element is Er.sup.3+ and the second active element is Ho.sup.3+ or Dy.sup.3+. The solid-state laser system also includes a pump source coupled to the gain medium for pumping the gain medium with pump light.

In a lighting system an optical fiber includes a light incident portion, a light emerging portion, and a wavelength-converting portion. The wavelength-converting portion is provided between the light incident portion and the light emerging portion. The wavelength-converting portion contains a wavelength-converting element which is excited by excitation light and amplifies a spontaneous emission of light, having a longer wavelength than the excitation light, with an amplified spontaneous emission of light. A first light source unit makes the excitation light incident on the light incident portion. A second light source unit makes seed light, which causes the wavelength-converting element excited by the excitation light and the amplified spontaneous emission of light to produce a stimulated emission of light, incident on the light incident portion. A lighting unit, into an external space, light emerging from the light emerging portion of the optical fiber.

An apparatus includes an amplified spontaneous emission source, which in turn includes an optical fiber. The optical fiber includes a solid core and a first end. The solid core includes a silica matrix. The silica matrix includes a rare-earth element and a glass co-dopant. The rare-earth element includes dysprosium or neodymium. The glass co-dopant includes Al.sub.2O.sub.3. The apparatus further includes a laser pump diode coupled to the first end of the optical fiber. The laser pump diode and the optical fiber cooperate to generate a spontaneous spectral emission confined to the solid core. The spontaneous spectral emission includes a simultaneous plurality of spectral regions.

An apparatus includes an amplified spontaneous emission source, which in turn includes an optical fiber. The optical fiber includes a solid core and a first end. The solid core includes a silica matrix. The silica matrix includes a rare-earth element and a glass co-dopant. The rare-earth element includes dysprosium or neodymium. The glass co-dopant includes Al.sub.2O.sub.3. The apparatus further includes a laser pump diode coupled to the first end of the optical fiber. The laser pump diode and the optical fiber cooperate to generate a spontaneous spectral emission confined to the solid core. The spontaneous spectral emission includes a simultaneous plurality of spectral regions.

An amplification fiber which can generate a laser beam in a visible region even when a silica glass is used as a base material of a core of the amplification fiber is realized. An amplification fiber according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a core configured to generate a laser beam from an excitation beam in a visible region, and a cladding surrounding the core. The core is composed of a core material including Dy, one or more elements selected from Al, Ge, and P, and a silica glass.

An amplification fiber which can generate a laser beam in a visible region even when a silica glass is used as a base material of a core of the amplification fiber is realized. An amplification fiber according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a core configured to generate a laser beam from an excitation beam in a visible region, and a cladding surrounding the core. The core is composed of a core material including Dy, one or more elements selected from Al, Ge, and P, and a silica glass.

A solid state ring laser gyroscope comprises a laser block including a resonant ring cavity having an optical closed loop pathway; a plurality of mirror structures mounted on the block and including respective multilayer mirrors that reflect light beams around the closed loop pathway; and a pump laser assembly in optical communication with the closed loop pathway through one of the mirror structures. One or more of the multilayer mirrors includes a rare-earth doped gain layer operative to produce bidirectional optical amplification of counter-propagating light beams in the closed loop pathway. In some embodiments, the gain layer comprises a rare-earth dopant other than neodymium that is doped into a glassy host material comprising titania, tantalum oxide, alumina, zirconia, silicate glass, phosphate glass, tellurite glass, fluorosilicate glass, or non-oxide glass. Alternatively, the gain layer can comprise a neodymium dopant that is doped into a glassy host material other than silica.

A solid state ring laser gyroscope comprises a laser block including a resonant ring cavity having an optical closed loop pathway; a plurality of mirror structures mounted on the block and including respective multilayer mirrors that reflect light beams around the closed loop pathway; and a pump laser assembly in optical communication with the closed loop pathway through one of the mirror structures. One or more of the multilayer mirrors includes a rare-earth doped gain layer operative to produce bidirectional optical amplification of counter-propagating light beams in the closed loop pathway. In some embodiments, the gain layer comprises a rare-earth dopant other than neodymium that is doped into a glassy host material comprising titania, tantalum oxide, alumina, zirconia, silicate glass, phosphate glass, tellurite glass, fluorosilicate glass, or non-oxide glass. Alternatively, the gain layer can comprise a neodymium dopant that is doped into a glassy host material other than silica.

The invention relates to rare-earth-doped ternary sulfides. The rare-earth-doped ternary sulfides may be used as an active material for mid-wave infrared and long-wave infrared lasers and amplifiers. Methods for producing laser materials including rare-earth-doped ternary sulfides, as well as lasers and amplifiers incorporating the laser materials, are also provided.

A solid-state laser system includes a gain medium having an optical resonator defined therein. The gain medium is co-doped with first and second active elements. The first active element is Er.sup.3+ and the second active element is Ho.sup.3+ or Dy.sup.3+. The solid-state laser system also includes a pump source coupled to the gain medium for pumping the gain medium with pump light.