Short-pulsed 2.1 μm laser performance of Cr,Tm,Ho:YAG

Author

Bowman, S.R. ; Winings, M.J. ; Searles, S. ; Feldman, B.J.

Author_Institution

US Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA

Volume

27

Issue

5

fYear

1991

fDate

5/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1129

Lastpage

1131

Abstract

An examination is conducted of Q-switching in flashlamp-pumped Cr,Tm,Ho:YAG 2.1 μm lasers. Experiments show that short-pulse operation in this material can exhibit comparable efficiencies to the long-pulse operation mode. Losses in overall efficiency are shown to be largely due to mode restriction in the resonator. A three-pulse extraction format is shown to improve slope efficiency by more than 200% compared to single Q-switched pulse extraction. The optimal interpulse interval was determined, revealing the time scale of the Tm sensitization process. Spectral shifts in the short-pulse operation mode were observed. Simultaneous dual-wavelength emission was found to be the most common mode of operation for the Q-switched laser

Keywords

Q-switching; chromium; holmium; laser modes; laser transitions; optical pumping; solid lasers; thulium; 2.1 micron; Q-switching; Tm sensitization process; YAG:Cr,Tm,Ho; YAl5O12:Cr,Tm,Ho; flashlamp pumped Cr,Tm,Ho:YAG lasers; laser performance; losses; mode restriction; optimal interpulse interval; overall efficiency; resonator; short-pulse operation mode; simultaneous dual wavelength emission; slope efficiency; spectral shifts; three-pulse extraction format; time scale; Atomic beams; Chromium; Crystals; Laser excitation; Laser transitions; Optical materials; Optical pulses; Pump lasers; Stationary state; Temperature sensors;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.83365

Filename

83365