Diode-Pumped, 2-Micron, Q-Switched Thulium: Y3Al5O12 (Tm:Yag) Microchip Laser

摘要

In this report we discuss the design, simulation, construction, and characterization of an actively Q-switched, diodepumped solid state laser operating at 2 micrometer. The laser cavity has a 'microchip' configuration and uses a 6% thuliumdoped YAG crystal as the lasing medium. In continuous wave mode, we achieve output powers of up to 450 mW with a slope efficiency of 9.5%. Using an acousto-optic Q-switch, the laser was run in pulsed mode at an average power of 42 mW and a pulse rate of 1.66 kHz. Pulse duration was approximately 400 ns with a pulse energy of 25 muJ. The center wavelength was 2.019 micrometer with a line width of.