Dual-wavelength continuous-wave cascade oscillation at 3 and 2 mum with a holmium-doped fluoride-glass fiber laser.

We have demonstrated dual-wavelength continuous-wave oscillation at 3 and 2 mum with a Ho-doped ZrF(4)- BaF(2)- LaF(3)- AlF(3)- NaF fluoride-glass fiber laser by use of a cascade oscillation scheme. We have shown that the fiber laser operates with a high slope efficiency of 52% (at 3 and 2microm) with respect to the absorbed pump power. With a 6.5-m-long fiber we achieved an output power of 90 mW at each of the wavelengths that was limited only by the pump power, and the 3-microm output power is to our knowledge higher than any previously reported level with 3-mum Ho(3+) -doped fiber lasers.