Efficient CW diode-pumped Tm, Ho:YLF laser with tunability near 2.067 μm

Author

McGuckin, B.T. ; Menzies, Robert T.

Author_Institution

Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA

Volume

28

Issue

4

fYear

1992

fDate

4/1/1992 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1025

Lastpage

1028

Abstract

A conversion efficiency of 42% and slope efficiency of approximately 60% relative to absorbed pump power are reported from a continuous wave diode-pumped Tm, Ho:YLF laser at 2 μm with output power of 84 mW at sub-ambient temperatures. The emission spectrum is etalon tunable over a range of 16 cm^-1 centered on 2.067 μm, with fine tuning capability of the transition frequency with crystal temperature at a measured rate of ~-0.03 cm^-1-K^-1. The effective emission cross section is measured to be 5×10^-21 cm². These and other aspects of the laser performance are discussed in the context of calculated atmospheric absorption characteristics in this spectral region and potential use in remote sensing applications

Keywords

holmium; laser transitions; laser tuning; lithium compounds; optical pumping; solid lasers; thulium; yttrium compounds; 2.067 micron; 42 percent; 60 percent; 84 mW; LiYF4:Tm,Ho; YLF:Tm,Ho; absorbed pump power; calculated atmospheric absorption characteristics; continuous wave diode-pumped Tm, Ho:YLF laser; conversion efficiency; crystal temperature; effective emission cross section; emission spectrum; fine tuning capability; laser performance; remote sensing applications; slope efficiency; spectral region; transition frequency; tunability; Diodes; Frequency; Laser excitation; Laser transitions; Laser tuning; Power generation; Power lasers; Pump lasers; Temperature measurement; Tunable circuits and devices;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.135223

Filename

135223