Title :
Pulsed laser action in Tm,Ho:LuLiF4 and Tm,Ho:YLiF4 crystals using a novel quasi-end-pumping technique
Author :
Sudesh, Vikas ; Asai, Kazuhiro ; Shimamura, Kiyoshi ; Fukuda, Tsuguo
Author_Institution :
Inst. for Mater. Res., Tohoku Univ., Sendai, Japan
fDate :
8/1/2002 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A number of good quality thulium and holmium-codoped LuLiF4 and YLiF4 single crystals were successfully grown by the Czochralski crystal growth method under a CF4 atmosphere. Using a novel diode-pumped, quasi-end-pump scheme incorporating two lens ducts, pulsed laser action is achieved in 5%Tm, 0.5% Ho:LuLiF4 and 5%Tm, 0.5% Ho:YLiF4 crystals, at various pulse repetition frequencies and temperatures. At 10 Hz and at an operating temperature of 273 K, slope efficiencies (optical to optical efficiencies) with respect to the incident pump energies of 12.9% (9.2%) and 7.4% (5.2%) were demonstrated in the grown Tm, Ho:LuLiF4 and Tm, Ho:YLiF4 crystals, respectively. Free running laser output energies in excess of 30 mJ (LuLiF4) and 17 mJ (YLF) were measured.
Keywords :
crystal growth from melt; holmium; lithium compounds; lutetium compounds; optical pumping; solid lasers; thulium; yttrium compounds; 17 mJ; 30 mJ; 5.2 percent; 9.2 percent; CF4 atmosphere; Czochralski crystal growth method; LuLiF4:Tm,Ho; Tm,Ho:LuLiF4 crystals; Tm,Ho:YLiF4 crystals; YLiF4:Tm,Ho; diode-pumped quasi-end-pump scheme; free running laser output energies; incident pump energies; operating temperature; optical to optical efficiencies; pulse repetition frequencies; pulsed laser action; quasi-end-pumping technique; slope efficiencies; two lens ducts; Atmosphere; Crystals; Diodes; Ducts; Frequency; Lenses; Optical pulses; Optical pumping; Pump lasers; Temperature;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
DOI :
10.1109/JQE.2002.801006
