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Photonics
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Advances in Solid-State Laser Technology and Applications
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Advances in Solid-State Laser Technology and Applications

A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732). This special issue belongs to the section "Lasers, Light Sources and Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 8267

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Zhen Qiao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
Interests: micro-nano laser; solid-state laser; orbital angular momentum beam; structured light laser

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the revolutionary invention of the laser in 1960, solid-state lasers have emerged as one of the most significant advancements in photonics technology. These lasers utilize solid gain media, such as crystals, glass, or fibers infused with a variety of dopants, enabling them to achieve exceptional performance characterized by durability, efficiency, and versatility. Their importance extends across a wide range of applications, including optical communications, medical procedures, microscopy, metrology, and scientific research. With the rapid development of information technology and the increasing demand for enhanced performance and advanced functionalities, solid-state laser technology is positioned to undergo a transformative evolution that extends beyond traditional applications.

In addition to the ongoing efforts to improve laser performance, such as output power, beam quality, wavelength tunability, and operational stability, researchers are actively exploring novel laser technologies to further expand the capabilities of solid-state lasers. For instance, the manipulation of solid-state lasers in higher optical dimensions through advanced laser designs holds potential to provide compact light sources for cutting-edge application fields, including quantum simulations, artificial intelligence, information encryption, advanced manufacturing, and ultra-high-sensitivity detection. As these developments emerge and mature, solid-state lasers are poised to exert a profound influence on the field of photonics technology.

This Special Issue aims to publish papers reporting on novel solid-state laser technologies and related applications. Original research articles and reviews are welcome to be submitted. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Solid-state lasers;
  • High-power lasers;
  • Mode-locking lasers;
  • Laser materials;
  • Nonlinear optics;
  • Optical parametric oscillation;
  • Structured light laser;
  • Transverse mode control;
  • Materials processing;
  • Laser medical treatment;
  • Laser sensing;
  • Laser metrology;
  • Information processing;
  • Quantum optics.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Zhen Qiao
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • solid-state lasers
  • high-power lasers
  • pulsed lasers
  • laser materials
  • structured light laser
  • materials processing
  • laser medical treatment
  • laser metrology
  • information processing
  • quantum optics

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 4256 KB  
Article
Tunable-Charge Optical Vortices Through Edge Diffraction of a High-Order Hermit-Gaussian Mode Laser
by Shuaichen Li, Yiyang Zhang, Ying Li, Linge Mao, Pengfan Zhao and Zhen Qiao
Photonics 2025, 12(11), 1076; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12111076 - 30 Oct 2025
Viewed by 206
Abstract
An optical vortex is a typical structured light field characterized by a helical wavefront and a central phase singularity. With its expanding applications in modern information technology, the demand for generating vortex beams with diverse topological charges continues to grow. Existing methods for [...] Read more.
An optical vortex is a typical structured light field characterized by a helical wavefront and a central phase singularity. With its expanding applications in modern information technology, the demand for generating vortex beams with diverse topological charges continues to grow. Existing methods for modulating the topological charges of vortex beams involve complex operations and high costs. This study proposes a novel approach to modulate the topological charges of optical vortices through edge diffraction of a high-order Hermit–Gaussian (HG) mode laser. First, a high-order HG mode laser is built using off-axis pumping configuration. By selectively obscuring specific lobes of the high-order HG beam, various optical vortices are generated using a cylindrical lens mode converter. The topological charge can be continuously tuned by controlling the number of obscured lobes. This method substantially improves the efficiency of topological charge modulation, while also enabling the generation of fractional vortex states. These advancements show potential in mode-division-multiplexed optical communications and encryption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Solid-State Laser Technology and Applications)
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16 pages, 2575 KB  
Article
Extending the ICESAT-2 ATLAS Lidar Capabilities to Other Planets Within Our Solar System
by John J. Degnan
Photonics 2025, 12(11), 1048; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12111048 - 23 Oct 2025
Viewed by 296
Abstract
The ATLAS lidar on NASA’s Earth-orbiting ICESat-2 satellite has operated continuously since its launch in September 2018, with no sign of degradation. Compared to previous international single-beam spaceborne lidars, which operated at a few tens of Hz, the single-photon-sensitive, six-beam ATLAS pushbroom lidar [...] Read more.
The ATLAS lidar on NASA’s Earth-orbiting ICESat-2 satellite has operated continuously since its launch in September 2018, with no sign of degradation. Compared to previous international single-beam spaceborne lidars, which operated at a few tens of Hz, the single-photon-sensitive, six-beam ATLAS pushbroom lidar provides 60,000 surface measurements per second and has accumulated almost 3 trillion surface measurements during its six years of operation. It also features a 0.5 m2 telescope aperture and a single, 5 Watt, frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser generating a 10 KHz train of 1.5-nanosecond pulses at a green wavelength of 532 nm. The current paper investigates how, with minor modifications to the ATLAS lidar, this capability might be extended to other planets within our solar system. Crucial to this capability is the need to minimize the solar background seen by the lidar while simultaneously providing, for long time intervals (multiple months), an uninterrupted, modestly powered, multimegabit per second interplanetary laser communications link to a terminal in Earth orbit. The proposed solution is a pair of Earth and planetary satellites in high, parallel, quasi-synchronized orbits perpendicular to their host planet’s orbital planes about the Sun. High orbits significantly reduce the time intervals over which the interplanetary communications link is blocked by their host planets. Initial establishment of the interplanetary communications link is simplified during two specific time intervals per orbit when the sunlit image of the two planets are not displaced from their actual positions (“zero point ahead angle”). In this instance, sunlit planetary images and the orbiting satellite laser beacon can be displayed on the same pixelated detector array, thereby accelerating the coalignment of the two communication terminals. Various tables in the text provide insight for each of the eight planets regarding the impact of solar distance on the worst-case Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), the effect of satellite orbital height on the duration of the unblocked interplanetary communications link, and the resulting planetary surface continuity and resolution in both the along-track and cross-track directions. For planets beyond Saturn, the laser power and/or transmit/receive telescope apertures required to transmit multimegabit-per-second lidar data back to Earth are major challenges given current technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Solid-State Laser Technology and Applications)
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15 pages, 8390 KB  
Article
Switchable Dual-Comb Fiber Laser Based on Sagnac Loop for Wavelength-Multiplexing and Polarization-Multiplexing
by Qianyu Yao, Lilin Luo, Yue Cai, Yongguo Zheng and Xinhai Zhang
Photonics 2025, 12(10), 961; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12100961 - 28 Sep 2025
Viewed by 362
Abstract
We present an all-fiber erbium-doped mode-locked laser capable of switching among continuously tunable single-pulse mode-locking, wavelength-multiplexing asynchronous-pulse mode-locking, and polarization-multiplexing asynchronous-pulse mode-locking states. The multiplexing mechanisms under different conditions are confirmed by separating the asynchronous-pulse sequences. Experimental results and numerical simulations indicate that [...] Read more.
We present an all-fiber erbium-doped mode-locked laser capable of switching among continuously tunable single-pulse mode-locking, wavelength-multiplexing asynchronous-pulse mode-locking, and polarization-multiplexing asynchronous-pulse mode-locking states. The multiplexing mechanisms under different conditions are confirmed by separating the asynchronous-pulse sequences. Experimental results and numerical simulations indicate that the adjustment of the polarization controller within the Sagnac loop is the key factor for switching between wavelength- and polarization-multiplexing asynchronous-pulse mode-locking. The multiple output characteristics of the same laser can support diverse application scenarios, offering significant cost reduction in practical applications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of switching between wavelength- and polarization-multiplexing asynchronous-pulse mode-locking states in a noise-like laser. Compared to previous related work, the proposed laser not only enables tunable mode-locking wavelengths but also achieves higher pulse energy. This work provides a light source solution with a simple structure and high switchability for dual-comb applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Solid-State Laser Technology and Applications)
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11 pages, 1849 KB  
Article
Miniaturized Multicolor Femtosecond Laser Based on Quartz-Encapsulated Nonlinear Frequency Conversion
by Bosong Yu, Siying Wang, Aimin Wang, Yizhou Liu and Lishuang Feng
Photonics 2025, 12(9), 836; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12090836 - 22 Aug 2025
Viewed by 3521
Abstract
Ultrafast lasers operating at 740 nm and 820 nm have attracted widespread attention as two-photon light sources for the detection of biological metabolism. Here, we report on a solid-like quartz-encapsulated femtosecond laser with a repetition rate of 80 MHz, delivering 740 nm and [...] Read more.
Ultrafast lasers operating at 740 nm and 820 nm have attracted widespread attention as two-photon light sources for the detection of biological metabolism. Here, we report on a solid-like quartz-encapsulated femtosecond laser with a repetition rate of 80 MHz, delivering 740 nm and 820 nm femtosecond laser pulses. This home-built laser system was realized by employing an erbium-doped 1560 nm fiber laser as the fundamental laser source. A quartz-encapsulated nonlinear frequency conversion stage, consisting of a second-harmonic generation (SHG) stage and self-phase modulation (SPM)-based nonlinear spectral broadening stage, was utilized to deliver 30 mW, 53.7 fs, 740 nm laser pulses and the 15 mW, 60.8 fs, 820 nm laser pulses. Further imaging capabilities of both wavelengths were validated using a custom-built inverted two-photon microscope. Clear imaging results were obtained from mouse kidney sections and pollen samples by collecting the corresponding fluorescence signals. The achieved results demonstrate the great potential of this laser source for advanced two-photon microscopy in metabolic detection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Solid-State Laser Technology and Applications)
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10 pages, 946 KB  
Article
Visible Triple-Wavelength Switchable Emission Generated in Passively Q-Switched Nd:YVO4 Self-Raman Laser
by Songtao Li, Shengxi Zheng, Bowen Zheng, Yong Wei, Yongchang Zhang, Yanmin Duan and Haiyong Zhu
Photonics 2025, 12(7), 669; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12070669 - 2 Jul 2025
Viewed by 547
Abstract
We report a passively Q-switched self-Raman laser using a dual-end composite c-cut Nd:YVO4 crystal, which generates switchable visible emissions at 533 nm, 560 nm, and 589 nm. A Cr4+:YAG/YAG composite crystal served the role of a saturable absorber to achieve [...] Read more.
We report a passively Q-switched self-Raman laser using a dual-end composite c-cut Nd:YVO4 crystal, which generates switchable visible emissions at 533 nm, 560 nm, and 589 nm. A Cr4+:YAG/YAG composite crystal served the role of a saturable absorber to achieve passive Q-switching. An angle-tuned BBO crystal was used to achieve the frequency mixing between the first-tokes wave and the fundamental wave. At an incident pump power of 9.5 W, the maximum average output powers were 425 mW for the 589 nm yellow laser, 193 mW for the 560 nm lime laser, and 605 mW for the 533 nm green laser, with corresponding pulse widths of approximately 3.8, 3.6, and 35.1 ns, respectively. This result shows that a passive Q-switching operation with self-Raman crystals presents a promising approach for compact multi-wavelength pulse laser sources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Solid-State Laser Technology and Applications)
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12 pages, 5133 KB  
Article
Exploring the Impact of Inlet Velocity Distribution on the Thermal Performance of a Laser Rod in a Diode Side-Pumped Amplifier
by Shuzhen Nie, Jinglan Lin, Tianzhuo Zhao and Xiaolong Liu
Photonics 2025, 12(6), 603; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12060603 - 12 Jun 2025
Viewed by 986
Abstract
Research on the thermal analysis of laser diode (LD) side-pumped amplifiers is a critical step in the design of high-power solid-state laser systems. Instead of adopting a standard solid modeling approach that only considers a laser rod, a fluid–structure interaction model is employed [...] Read more.
Research on the thermal analysis of laser diode (LD) side-pumped amplifiers is a critical step in the design of high-power solid-state laser systems. Instead of adopting a standard solid modeling approach that only considers a laser rod, a fluid–structure interaction model is employed for analysis using the FLUENT 2021 R1 software. This model integrates the cooling structure, coolant, and laser rod, incorporating their relevant material parameters. By considering both uniform and non-uniform inlet velocity distributions as loading conditions, the study reveals remarkably different thermal simulation results. The correlation between thermal analysis outcomes and the total inlet flow rates is calculated, while temperature and stress distributions are obtained under a varying internal heat source. It was observed that the non-uniform inlet velocity distribution has little impact on the rod’s maximum temperature but significantly influences the maximum equivalent stress. This finding underscores the necessity of accounting for non-uniform inlet distributions during the design of laser amplifiers to achieve more accurate thermal simulation results and optimize structural reliability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Solid-State Laser Technology and Applications)
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8 pages, 1732 KB  
Communication
Nonlinear-Optical-Loop-Mirror-Based Mode-Locked Fiber Laser Sensor for Low-Temperature Measurement
by Xian-An Dou, Linchan Li, Chang Liang, Haiping Xu, Qing Ye, Hui Kong, Jintian Bian and Lei Guo
Photonics 2025, 12(5), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12050507 - 19 May 2025
Viewed by 720
Abstract
A temperature-sensing scheme is realized by a passively mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser based on the nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM). The ambient temperature can be measured by detecting the pulse repetition frequency of the mode-locked fiber laser by an oscilloscope. When the ambient [...] Read more.
A temperature-sensing scheme is realized by a passively mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser based on the nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM). The ambient temperature can be measured by detecting the pulse repetition frequency of the mode-locked fiber laser by an oscilloscope. When the ambient temperature increases from −40 °C to 6 °C, the pulse repetition frequency decreases linearly with a temperature sensitivity of 72.548 Hz/°C. The experimental results prove the feasibility of the mode-locked laser sensor operating in a low-temperature environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Solid-State Laser Technology and Applications)
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10 pages, 2296 KB  
Article
Research on Nanosecond High-Pulse-Energy Regenerative Amplifier with Adjustable Pulse Duration and Third Harmonic Generation
by Mengyao Cheng, Hua Wang, Wenlong Tian, Yizhou Liu and Jiangfeng Zhu
Photonics 2025, 12(4), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12040353 - 8 Apr 2025
Viewed by 933
Abstract
We reported on a nanosecond regenerative amplified laser with a repetition rate of 1 kHz by employing laser diodes (LDs) with distinct wavelengths as both the seed laser and the pump source and utilizing Nd:YAG as the gain medium. The single-pulse energy was [...] Read more.
We reported on a nanosecond regenerative amplified laser with a repetition rate of 1 kHz by employing laser diodes (LDs) with distinct wavelengths as both the seed laser and the pump source and utilizing Nd:YAG as the gain medium. The single-pulse energy was 1.58 mJ and the pulse duration was adjustable, ranging from 1 to 5 ns. Combining two oppositely oriented BBO crystals for second harmonic generation (SHG) and an LBO crystal for third harmonic generation (THG), a 355 nm laser with a single-pulse energy of 257 μJ was attained, corresponding to a THG efficiency of 16.2%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Solid-State Laser Technology and Applications)
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