Diode laser pumped Er/sup 3+/ fibre laser operation between 2.7-2.8 mu m

CW laser operation in the 2.7–2.8 μm region has been observed in Er3+ doped fluorozircoaluminate glass fibres by diode laser pumping at 0.8 μm. An absorbed threshold power of 10 mW and an output laser power of 2.1 mW with a slope efficiency of 8% were obtained.