Masaki Tokurakawa, Assistant Professor, Institute for Laser Science.

Controlling light and atoms: Development of new short pulse lasers in the wavelength range of two micrometers

Masaki Tokurakawa, Assistant Professor, Institute for Laser Science.

Masaki Tokurakawa is aiming to control 'light and atoms'. His research is focused on laser physics, laser engineering and atomic optics, with one specific research topic being the development of new short pulse lasers in the wavelength range of two micrometers. This wavelength range of short pulse lasers have potential applications including laser welding of polymer materials, three dimensional processing of silicon materials, generation of mid-infra-red coherent pulses by nonlinear frequency conversion, and generation of coherent soft X-rays by high order harmonics generation. For these applications it is necessary to improve the conversion efficiency, average power, and pulse duration of the lasers. "Recently, we have developed a new thulium (Tm) doped solid state laser with a new laser gain medium and Kerr-lens mode-locking," says Tokurakawa. "This device has a much shorter pulse duration and higher output power than previous reports."

Further information

Masaki Tokurakawa, Assistant Professor, Institute for Laser Science,
The University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo.

Website:http://www.ils.uec.ac.jp/~tokura/index.html
Research Highlight:Kerr-lens mode-locked Tm doped sesquioxides laser in-band pumped by an Er:Yb fiber MOPA 1.6 μm