Laser developments in the mid infra-red wavelength regime and their applications Available to Purchase

This paper reviews a very active area of laser research and development; lasers emitting in the mid infra-red spectral regime. Details are presented on thulium and erbium doped fiber lasers, q switch thulium fiber lasers, and hybrid fiber lasers. The basic differences between laser materials processing with these wavelengths and with the more widely used near infra-red 1.06-1.7 µm fiber lasers are discussed. Up to 200 watts average power is now commercially available from thulium fiber lasers in the 2 µm spectral regime and applications employing these lasers have already found their way into industry with more to follow.