Novel pumping schemes of Mid-IR photonic crystal fiber lasers for aerospace applications

The paper illustrates the design of two pumping schemes for Mid-IR lasers based on photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) made of dysprosium doped chalcogenide glass Dy3+:Ga5Ge20Sb10S65. The simulation is performed by taking into account the spectroscopic parameters measured on the rare earth-doped glass sample in order to perform a realistic feasibility investigation. The first pump scheme provides an optical beam emission close to 4400 nm wavelength by employing two pump beams at the wavelengths close to 2800 nm and 4100 nm, respectively. The second pump scheme allows beam emission close to 4400 nm wavelength via a 1700 nm pump, its efficiency is increased by including a suitable optical amplifier after the laser cavity. The proposed light sources based on chalcogenide glass photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) doped with Dy3+ ions are investigated via a home-made numerical model based on the coupled mode theory and solving the rare earth rate equations. A number of promising applications in different areas such as satellite remote sensing and aerospace, biology, molecular spectroscopy and environmental monitoring are feasible.