Mid-infrared gas filled photonic crystal fiber laser based on population inversion.

We demonstrate for the first time an optically pumped gas laser based on population inversion using a hollow core photonic crystal fiber (HC-PCF). The HC-PCF filled with 12C2H2 gas is pumped with ~5 ns pulses at 1.52 μm and lases at 3.

Molecular C2H2 and HCN lasers pumped by an optical parametric oscillator in the 1.5-microm band.

Lasing of HCN and C(2)H(2) in the 3-micron region was demonstrated with a ns pump emitting in the telecommunication C band (1.5 micron region). The observed laser lines correspond to transitions from the terminal pump vibration-rotation state to a combination vibrational state.