Patent ID: 8995488
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A high-gain optical amplifier for a wave to be amplified at a wavelength referred to as the emission wavelength, comprising: means for optical pumping producing a pump wave at a wavelength referred to as the pump wavelength; a solid amplifying medium that is doped with ytterbium active ions, said solid amplifying medium being capable of emitting laser radiation at an emission wavelength when pumped by said pumping means; means for cooling capable of cooling said solid amplifying medium; and means for optical multiplexing capable of coupling together the pump wave and the wave to be amplified in the amplifying medium; wherein: the solid amplifying medium is cooled to a temperature lower than 150° K, the solid amplifying medium is a ytterbium-doped fluoride, the solid amplifying medium has Stark sublevels contained within a spectral domain ranging over less than 200 cm the pump wavelength is between 980 and 990 nm, the emission wavelength is higher than 990 nm, and a quantum defect ρ of said amplifying medium is lower than 2%.