Abstract
AbstractWe present a diode-pumped, electro-opticallyQ-switched Tm:YAG laser with a cryogenically cooled laser crystal at 120 K. Output pulses of up to 2.55 mJ and 650 ns duration were demonstrated in an activelyQ-switched configuration with a repetition rate of 1 Hz. By using cavity dumping the pulse duration was shortened to 18 ns with only a slightly lower output energy of 2.22 mJ. Furthermore, using a simplified rate equation model, we discuss design constraints on the pump fluence in a pulse pump approach for Tm:YAG to maximize the energy storage capability at a given pump power.
Highlights
Thulium-doped laser media can be used in diode-pumped solid-state lasers emitted in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) range, from about 1.8 μm to 2.05 μm
We present results from an active electrooptical Q-switched laser system using Tm:yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) as the active medium and a rubidium titanyle phosphate (RTP) Pockels cell
During the first tests of the laser system we found that without this measure the laser ran highly unstable in quasi-continuous wave (QCW) operation mode, while operation in Q-switch mode was not possible at all
Summary
Thulium-doped laser media can be used in diode-pumped solid-state lasers emitted in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) range, from about 1.8 μm to 2.05 μm. Tm:YAG lasers can serve as a well-adapted pump source for laser systems using Cr:ZnSe as the active material. We present results from an active electrooptical Q-switched laser system using Tm:YAG as the active medium and a rubidium titanyle phosphate (RTP) Pockels cell Since this laser has been developed to serve as a pump source for future chromium-doped high-energy laser amplifiers, the laser system was designed to operate at the 1.88 μm emission line. When using cavity dumping the pulse duration was shortened to 18 ns with a slightly lower output energy of 2.22 mJ With these parameters, we believe to be presenting the first Q-switched Tm:YAG laser emitting at 1.88 μm, which represents a first important step toward realizing a well-adapted, pulse-pumped source for Cr:ZnSe lasers
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