Compact and efficient 2µm Tm:YAP lasers with mechanical or passive Q-switching

Brian Cole; Lew Goldberg

doi:10.1117/12.2253915

17 February 2017 Compact and efficient 2μm Tm:YAP lasers with mechanical or passive Q-switching

Brian Cole, Lew Goldberg

Proceedings Volume 10082, Solid State Lasers XXVI: Technology and Devices; 100820B (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2253915
Event: SPIE LASE, 2017, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

We describe compact and efficient Q-switched diode-pumped, Tm:YAP lasers operating at 1.94μm. Laser CW and Q-switched performance is compared, using both compact mechanical as well as passive Q-switching. For passive Q-switching using a Cr:ZnS saturable absorber (unsaturated transmission of 95%), the laser produced 0.5mJ pulses with an average power of 4.4W and 6.5kW peak power, and had an optical efficiency of 30%. A resonant mirror mechanical Q-switch resulted in a 4 kHz PRF pulse train, with an optical slope efficiency of 52% and an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 41%. The laser generated 1.5 mJ, 45 ns FWHM, 33kW peak power pulses, and 6.2W of average output. A second mechanically Q-switched laser operating at 10 kHz PRF produced 1mJ, 35kW peak power pulses, generating 11W average power with an optical efficiency of 46%, and a beam quality of 1.4x diffraction limit.

Citation Download Citation

Brian Cole and Lew Goldberg "Compact and efficient 2μm Tm:YAP lasers with mechanical or passive Q-switching", Proc. SPIE 10082, Solid State Lasers XXVI: Technology and Devices, 100820B (17 February 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2253915

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available