Abstract

We demonstrate a novel three-dimensional solid-state display using rare earth doped fluoride glass as the active medium. In such a device, two laser beams intersect orthogonally inside a bulk glass sample at room temperature to address a pixel in three-dimensional space. The two-step resonant upconversion process requires two different infrared wavelengths to produce visible radiation. In this manner, a pixel can be addressed only at the intersection of two laser beams. By scanning the beams inside the display material, true three-dimensional figures can be drawn.¹ For practical applications with high bit densities and low power pump lasers, high upconversion efficiency is necessary. Recent work in upconversion in fluoride glasses, motivated by fiber amplifier and short wavelength laser development, has identified fluoride glass hosts and rare earth dopants as systems that have high radiative recombination rates and high upconversion efficiencies. In this presentation we demonstrate three-dimensional displays in praseodymium doped bulk fluoride glass using 1064- and 840-nm pump laser beams. We demonstrate a novel three-dimensional solid-state display using rare earth doped fluoride glass as the active medium. In such a device, two laser beams intersect orthogonally inside a bulk glass sample at room temperature to address a pixel in three-dimensional space. The two-step resonant upconversion process requires two different infrared wavelengths to produce visible radiation. In this manner, a pixel can be addressed only at the intersection of two laser beams. By scanning the beams inside the display material, true three-dimensional figures can be drawn.¹ For practical applications with high bit densities and low power pump lasers, high upconversion efficiency is necessary. Recent work in upconversion in fluoride glasses, motivated by fiber amplifier and short wavelength laser development, has identified fluoride glass hosts and rare earth dopants as systems that have high radiative recombination rates and high upconversion efficiencies. In this presentation we demonstrate three-dimensional displays in praseodymium doped bulk fluoride glass using 1064- and 840-nm pump laser beams.

© 1994 Optical Society of America