Erbium 3-mu m fiber lasers

With its recent breakthrough in terms of output power, the erbium 3-mum fib er laser has become an object of intense scientific research and an increas ingly attractive tool for medical applications. This paper reviews the rese arch on the erbium 3-mum fiber laser since its first demonstration, Its dev elopment is seen in relationship to the early success of the corresponding crystal laser system, to the foundations that were laid by the investigatio n of its spectroscopy and population mechanisms, and the recent technologic al developments in related fields.