The spectroscopic properties and laser operation of thulium-doped tantalum pentoxide (Tm:Ta2O5) waveguides are reported in this paper. Fluorescence ranging from 1600 nm to 2200 nm, corresponding to the 3F4 → 3H6 transition was observed from 3 wt% Tm:Ta2O5 waveguides pumped at a wavelength of 795 nm. Measurements of excited-state lifetime, the emission and absorption spectra, with subsequent calculation of the cross-sections for the deposited films, reveal its potential as a gain medium. Laser operation at a wavelength of 1865 nm was obtained with feedback from the polished end faces alone, demonstrating gain of >9 dB/cm.

中文翻译：

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硅上掺铥五氧化二钽波导的光谱

本文报道了掺铥五氧化二钽 (Tm:Ta2O5) 波导的光谱特性和激光操作。荧光范围从 1600 nm 到 2200 nm，对应于 3F4 → 3H6 跃迁，从以 795 nm 波长泵浦的 3 wt% Tm:Ta2O5 波导观察到。激发态寿命、发射和吸收光谱的测量，以及随后对沉积薄膜横截面的计算，揭示了其作为增益介质的潜力。在 1865 nm 波长下的激光操作是通过单独来自抛光端面的反馈获得的，证明增益 >9 dB/cm。