Spectral and Modal Properties of a Mid-IR Spherical Microlaser

TL;DR

This paper characterizes a mid-infrared spherical whispering gallery mode microlaser, highlighting its spectral properties, thermal tuning, and polarization, and offers design guidelines for optimization.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed spectral and modal analysis of a mid-IR spherical WGM microlaser based on heavily doped Er:ZBLAN glass.

Findings

Achieved linewidth less than 1.1 MHz.

Demonstrated single-mode and multimode spectra.

Provided design guidelines for optimized microlaser performance.

Abstract

Whispering gallery mode (WGM) lasers are well-known for their small sizes, low thresholds and narrow linewidths, and have been the subject of research and development for more than two decades. However most of the initial reports and studies have focused on near-IR and visible WGM microlasers. Recent advances in the synthesis, doping and processing of high quality mid-IR transparent glasses have provided the means to extend the wavelengths of these microlasers to the mid-IR range. In this paper, we present a detailed characterization of a compact and low-cost mid-IR spherical WGM microlaser based on heavily doped Er:ZBLAN glass operating near 2.7 um with an estimated linewidth less than 1.1 MHz. We describe experimental results on observed single-mode and multimode spectra, thermal tuning, and polarization characteristics of such microlasers. Using a simple analysis of spherical microresonator modes and including considerations of pump and laser mode overlap we provide guidelines for optimized microlaser design.