Efficient generation of diode pumped Tm:YLF laser end-pumped by 25-W laser diode bar was demonstrated. Above 5 W of output power has been obtained. The output spectrum was centered at 1908-nm with <15 nm linewidth. In active Q-switching mode, for 20-Hz repetition rate, up to 5.5 mJ output energy with a pulse duration of 11 ns was achieved. Further pulse energy scaling up was limited by the damage of laser elements. The divergence angle was about 3.5 mrad and estimated parameter M² < 1.15. We also report mid-infrared laser generation at 2488 nm with a linewidth of ~60 nm in a polycrystalline Cr:ZnSe active medium. In a free-running regime, for 80 mJ incident pump energy, 3 mJ of output pulse energy was achieved.

Date Published: 28 February 2014
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 8959, Solid State Lasers XXIII: Technology and Devices, 89590D (28 February 2014); doi: 10.1117/12.2036353

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8959:
Solid State Lasers XXIII: Technology and Devices
W. Andrew Clarkson; Ramesh K. Shori, Editor(s)