We report a compact Ho:YAG laser that is intracavity pumped by a diode-pumped Tm:YLF laser. Both lasers exhibit pulse mode behavior. Operating both crystals at room temperature (25 degrees C), we obtained 1.6 W of average output at 2.09 microm from the Ho:YAG laser for 15.4 W of diode power incident upon the Tm:YLF rod and a slope efficiency of 21%.
We report on what are, to our knowledge, the best results obtained with an orientation-patterned GaAs optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by a Q-switched 2 microm Ho:YAG laser. Up to 2.85 W are obtained for 6.1 W of pump power, corresponding to an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 46.5% with a threshold of 1 W. Optical damage occurred at a fluence of about 2 J/cm2. The thickness of the crystal limited the pump power. Slope efficiencies are of the same order as those obtained with ZnGeP2 OPOs pumped with the same Ho:YAG laser.
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