Emission Wavelength Limits of a Continuous-Wave Thulium-Doped Fiber Laser Source Operating at 1.94 μm, 2.09 μm or 2.12 μm

We present a thulium-doped single-oscillator monolithic fiber laser emitting successively at three wavelengths, especially at unusual long wavelengths as 2.09 mu m and even at 2.12 mu m. The 793 nm core absorption of 8.42 dB/m allows for achieving a slope efficiency higher than 43% both at 1.94 mu m and 2.09 mu m. The operation of the laser at 1.94 mu m, 2.09 mu m, and 2.12 mu m is compared by using different fiber Bragg gratings to push the limit of thulium ions emission above 2.05 mu m. This is the first demonstration of emission exceeding wavelengths of 2.1 mu m of an only thulium-doped fiber laser, to the best of our knowledge.