High-power 2-um diode-pumped Tm:YAG laser

Raymond J. Beach; Steven B. Sutton; Eric C. Honea; Jay A. Skidmore; Mark A. Emanuel

doi:10.1117/12.236152

25 March 1996 High-power 2-μm diode-pumped Tm:YAG laser

Raymond J. Beach, Steven B. Sutton, Eric C. Honea, Jay A. Skidmore, Mark A. Emanuel

Proceedings Volume 2698, Solid State Lasers V; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.236152
Event: Photonics West '96, 1996, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Using a scalable diode end-pumping technology developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory we have demonstrated a compact Tm:YAG laser capable of generating greater than 50 W of cw 2 micrometer laser output power. The design and operational characteristics of this laser, which was built originally for use in assessing laser surgical techniques, are discussed. The 2 micrometer radiation produced by the ³F₄ - ³H₆ transition of Tm³⁺ has many practical applications because it is strongly absorbed by water and also because it is an 'eye-safe' wavelength. The strong absorption of 2 micrometer radiation by water makes this transition a very attractive candidate for performing laser surgical procedures as most tissue types are predominately composed of liquid water. The fact that 2 micrometer radiation is considered 'eye-safe' makes this transition attractive for laser range finding and remote sensing applications where other laser wavelengths could pose a safety hazard. At sufficiently high doping densities, Tm³⁺ exhibits a beneficial two-for-one quantum pump efficiency enabling well developed AlGaAs laser diode arrays to be used as efficient excitation sources. Many applications requiring 2 micrometer laser radiation such as remote sensing, laser radar, anti sensor, sensor spoofing, and OPO pumping have driven the development of diode pumped all solid state TM³⁺ laser systems because of their potential for efficiency, compactness, and ruggedness. Here we focus on Tm³⁺:YAG and the scalable diode end-pumping technology developed at LLNL which enables higher average power operation of diode pumped Tm³⁺ laser systems than has previously been possible. To date we have demonstrated cw operation of this laser to power levels of 51 W. The end-pumping technology used is the same as was previously used to demonstrate a 100 mJ Q-switched Nd:YLF laser. (Truncated.)

Citation Download Citation

Raymond J. Beach, Steven B. Sutton, Eric C. Honea, Jay A. Skidmore, and Mark A. Emanuel "High-power 2-μm diode-pumped Tm:YAG laser", Proc. SPIE 2698, Solid State Lasers V, (25 March 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.236152

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