Ho:KLu(WO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> Microchip Laser Q-Switched by a PbS Quantum-Dot-Doped Glass

Abstract

We report on passive Q-switching of a Ho:KLu(WO4)2 (Ho:KLuW) microchip laser in-band-pumped by a Tm:KLuW laser at $\sim 1.96\mu \text{m}$ . As a saturable absorber, PbS-quantum-dot-doped glass was used which exhibits a saturation intensity of $\sim 3$ MW/cm $^{\mathrm {{2}}}$ near 2 $\mu \text{m}$ . Maximum average output power of 84 mW was achieved from the Ho laser at 2.061 $\mu \text{m}$ with a slope efficiency of 42% (with respect to the absorbed pump power). The shortest pulse duration was 30 ns. In the continuous-wave mode, the maximum output power of the Ho laser reached 530 mW at 2.08 $\mu \text{m}$ with a slope efficiency of 88%.