Title :
Low threshold laser-diode side-pumped Tm:YAG and Tm:Ho:YAG lasers
Author :
Rustad, Gunnar ; Stenersen, Knut
Author_Institution :
Norwegian Defence Res. Establ., Kjeller, Norway
fDate :
2/1/1997 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We report results from transverse laser-diode pumping of Tm:YAG and Tm:Ho:YAG rods. Using two 60-W quasicontinuous-wave laser-diode bars and a special dielectric coating structure on the barrel surface of the laser rod, laser operation was obtained at room temperature with threshold pump energies below 100 mJ and with output pulse energy above 10 mJ in free-running operation and 2 mJ in Q-switched operation. The Tm:Ho:YAG laser was more susceptible to a temperature increase in the material and performed significantly poorer in the Q-switched mode of operation than the Tm:YAG laser. This was predicted by a model accounting for up conversion and the dynamic equilibrium between the upper levels in thulium and holmium in Tm:Ho:YAG
Keywords :
Q-switching; holmium; optical films; optical pumping; solid lasers; thulium; 100 mJ; 2 mJ; 60 W; Q-switched mode; Q-switched operation; Tm,Ho:YAG lasers; YAG:Tm; YAG:Tm,Ho; YAl5O12:Tm; YAl5O12:Tm,Ho; barrel surface; dielectric coating structure; dynamic equilibrium; free-running operation; laser operation; laser rod; low threshold laser-diode side-pumped Tm:YAG lasers; output pulse energy; quasicontinuous-wave laser-diode bars; room temperature; temperature increase; threshold pump energies; transverse laser-diode pumping; upper levels; Bars; Coatings; Dielectrics; Laser excitation; Laser modes; Optical materials; Optical pulses; Pump lasers; Surface emitting lasers; Temperature;
Journal_Title :
Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
DOI :
10.1109/2944.585818
