Design and Simulation of a U⁺-Band Fiber Laser Using Ho³⁺-Doped ZBLAN Glass
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Design and Simulation of a U⁺-Band Fiber Laser Using Ho³⁺-Doped ZBLAN Glass

Zishuo Xiao 1*
1 Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications
*Corresponding author: 2022213297@bupt.cn
Published on 22 October 2025
Journal Cover
ACE Vol.198
ISSN (Print): 2755-273X
ISSN (Online): 2755-2721
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-469-4
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-470-0
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Abstract

This study aims to explore the application of Ho³⁺-doped ZBLAN glass in U⁺-band (1700–1800 nm) fiber lasers. This spectral region possesses low water absorption and minimal biological tissue scattering, making it broadly applicable for deep biological tissue imaging, molecular spectroscopy identification, gas sensing, and military optoelectronic systems, thus significantly advancing optical communication, industrial processing, and biomedical fields. Using MATLAB simulation software, we constructed a theoretical model for a Ho³⁺-doped ZBLAN fiber laser based on rate equations and power propagation equations. Simulation results demonstrated a linear increase in output power with increasing pump power under conditions of fiber length 1.2 m, doping concentration 6.0×10²⁵ m⁻³, and pump wavelength of 1150 nm. Specifically, a maximum laser output power of approximately 1.28 W was achieved at a pump power of 20 W. Furthermore, the simulation results verified the consistency of the physical mechanisms of the model and the laser establishment process, with a threshold pump power of approximately 1.7 W and a slope efficiency of 6.7%. This research provides theoretical support and practical reference for the design and performance optimization of efficient U⁺-band fiber lasers. Future work could further optimize doping concentration, pumping structure, and fiber core design to enhance optical-optical conversion efficiency and output power, meeting higher power application demands and promoting technological advancements in related fields.

Keywords:

Holmium-doped fiber lasers, U⁺-band emission, ZBLAN glass, In-band pumping, Numerical simulation

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Xiao,Z. (2025). Design and Simulation of a U⁺-Band Fiber Laser Using Ho³⁺-Doped ZBLAN Glass. Applied and Computational Engineering,198,10-17.

References

[1]. Kinross-Wright, M., Valdmanis, R., Hagan, D.J. (2015) SESAM Q-switched Ho³⁺-doped ZBLAN fiber laser at 1190 nm. Optics Express, 23, 18269-18277. DOI: 10.1364/OE.23.018269.

[2]. Sandrock, T., Heidt, A.M., Bartelt, H. (2023) 2875 nm lasing from Ho³⁺-doped fluoroindate glass fibers. Optical Materials Express, 13, 368-378. DOI: 10.1364/OME.482073.

[3]. Liu, W., Yang, R., Zhang, L., et al. (2016) Numerical investigation of 1662 nm holmium-doped fiber lasers enabled by a 751 nm fiber laser pump. Optics Express, 24, 14703-14710. DOI: 10.1364/OE.24.014703.

[4]. Hemming, A., Petersen, P., Carter, A. (2022) High power operation of in-band pumped holmium-doped silica fiber lasers. Optics Express, 30, 10414-10425. DOI: 10.1364/OE.456196.

[5]. Daniel, A., Lefrançois, L., Zaouter, Y. (2020) Wavelength tunable Ho³⁺-doped ZBLAN fiber lasers in the 1.2 μm wavelength region. Optics Express, 28, 5189-5196. DOI: 10.1364/OE.386871.

[6]. Wang, B., Li, D., Zhang, Y., et al. (2017) Er³⁺/Ho³⁺ co-doped fluoride fiber laser with enhanced mid-IR output through energy transfer optimization. Scientific Reports, 7, 13200. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13200-x.

[7]. Xu, H., Wang, Y. (2022) Excited-state absorption and upconversion modeling in Ho³⁺-doped fibers. In: OSA Advanced Photonics Congress. Optical Society of America.

[8]. Yang, Y., He, Y. (2020) Realizing a watt-level 1.72 μm femtosecond fiber laser by a single-frequency laser-seeded stimulated Raman amplification. Optics Express, 28, 5124-5131. DOI: 10.1364/OE.386885.

[9]. Wang, H., Chen, Y., Liu, Z., et al. (2020) Tunable wavelength and high repetition rate Ho³⁺ fiber laser using FBGs. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 38, 3039-3044. DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2020.2974796.

[10]. Tang, S., Lu, X. (2021) Biomedical imaging with NIR-II fiber lasers: applications and challenges. Biomedical Optics Express, 12, 1267-1279. DOI: 10.1364/BOE.419801.

[11]. Li, L., Zhao, Y., Li, X., et al. (2022) Theoretical characterization of the ultra-broadband gain spectra from thulium-doped fiber amplifiers. Optical Materials Express, 12, 3835-3848. DOI: 10.1364/OME.460224.

[12]. Zhou, H., Song, X., Zhang, X., et al. (2019) ESA measurement and suppression in Ho³⁺-doped fibers for mid-IR applications. Optics Express, 27, 22975-22984. DOI: 10.1364/OE.27.022975.

[13]. He, S., Jin, W., Xu, F., et al. (2020) Comparative study of ZBLAN and ZLBAN fibers for laser performance and thermal resistance. Optical Fiber Technology, 56, 102178. DOI: 10.1016/j.yofte.2019.102178.

[14]. Kharitonov, S., Kalashnikov, K., Melkumov, M., et al. (2018) In-band pumping schemes for Ho³⁺-doped fluoride fiber lasers with low thermal load. Laser Physics Letters, 15, 125101. DOI: 10.1088/1612-202X/aae2c1.

References

[1]. Kinross-Wright, M., Valdmanis, R., Hagan, D.J. (2015) SESAM Q-switched Ho³⁺-doped ZBLAN fiber laser at 1190 nm. Optics Express, 23, 18269-18277. DOI: 10.1364/OE.23.018269.

[2]. Sandrock, T., Heidt, A.M., Bartelt, H. (2023) 2875 nm lasing from Ho³⁺-doped fluoroindate glass fibers. Optical Materials Express, 13, 368-378. DOI: 10.1364/OME.482073.

[3]. Liu, W., Yang, R., Zhang, L., et al. (2016) Numerical investigation of 1662 nm holmium-doped fiber lasers enabled by a 751 nm fiber laser pump. Optics Express, 24, 14703-14710. DOI: 10.1364/OE.24.014703.

[4]. Hemming, A., Petersen, P., Carter, A. (2022) High power operation of in-band pumped holmium-doped silica fiber lasers. Optics Express, 30, 10414-10425. DOI: 10.1364/OE.456196.

[5]. Daniel, A., Lefrançois, L., Zaouter, Y. (2020) Wavelength tunable Ho³⁺-doped ZBLAN fiber lasers in the 1.2 μm wavelength region. Optics Express, 28, 5189-5196. DOI: 10.1364/OE.386871.

[6]. Wang, B., Li, D., Zhang, Y., et al. (2017) Er³⁺/Ho³⁺ co-doped fluoride fiber laser with enhanced mid-IR output through energy transfer optimization. Scientific Reports, 7, 13200. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13200-x.

[7]. Xu, H., Wang, Y. (2022) Excited-state absorption and upconversion modeling in Ho³⁺-doped fibers. In: OSA Advanced Photonics Congress. Optical Society of America.

[8]. Yang, Y., He, Y. (2020) Realizing a watt-level 1.72 μm femtosecond fiber laser by a single-frequency laser-seeded stimulated Raman amplification. Optics Express, 28, 5124-5131. DOI: 10.1364/OE.386885.

[9]. Wang, H., Chen, Y., Liu, Z., et al. (2020) Tunable wavelength and high repetition rate Ho³⁺ fiber laser using FBGs. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 38, 3039-3044. DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2020.2974796.

[10]. Tang, S., Lu, X. (2021) Biomedical imaging with NIR-II fiber lasers: applications and challenges. Biomedical Optics Express, 12, 1267-1279. DOI: 10.1364/BOE.419801.

[11]. Li, L., Zhao, Y., Li, X., et al. (2022) Theoretical characterization of the ultra-broadband gain spectra from thulium-doped fiber amplifiers. Optical Materials Express, 12, 3835-3848. DOI: 10.1364/OME.460224.

[12]. Zhou, H., Song, X., Zhang, X., et al. (2019) ESA measurement and suppression in Ho³⁺-doped fibers for mid-IR applications. Optics Express, 27, 22975-22984. DOI: 10.1364/OE.27.022975.

[13]. He, S., Jin, W., Xu, F., et al. (2020) Comparative study of ZBLAN and ZLBAN fibers for laser performance and thermal resistance. Optical Fiber Technology, 56, 102178. DOI: 10.1016/j.yofte.2019.102178.

[14]. Kharitonov, S., Kalashnikov, K., Melkumov, M., et al. (2018) In-band pumping schemes for Ho³⁺-doped fluoride fiber lasers with low thermal load. Laser Physics Letters, 15, 125101. DOI: 10.1088/1612-202X/aae2c1.

Cite this article

Xiao,Z. (2025). Design and Simulation of a U⁺-Band Fiber Laser Using Ho³⁺-Doped ZBLAN Glass. Applied and Computational Engineering,198,10-17.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of CONF-FMCE 2025 Symposium: AI and Machine Learning Applications in Infrastructure Engineering

ISBN: 978-1-80590-469-4(Print) / 978-1-80590-470-0(Online)
Editor: Anil Fernando, Manoj Khandelwal
Conference website: https://www.conffmce.org/mounthelen.html
Conference date: 24 September 2025
Series: Applied and Computational Engineering
Volume number: Vol.198
ISSN: 2755-2721(Print) / 2755-273X(Online)

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