<title>Upconversion lasing of a Tm<formula><sup><roman>3+</roman></sup></formula>-doped fluoride glass microsphere</title>

Upconversion lasing of a thulium-ion-doped zirconium fluoride glass microsphere was demonstrated. The microsphere was pumped by a fundamental wave of a Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) at room temperature. The lasing emission was observed in 480-nm and 800-nm regions, and their lasing thresholds were determined to be approximately 20 mW and approximately 5 mW, respectively. The application to near-field optical microscopy is also discussed.