We have generated 201 W of green (514.5 nm) average power from a frequency-doubled picosecond cryogenic Yb:YAG laser system driven by a 50 MHz, 12.4 ps mode-locked Yb fiber laser producing 430 W of average power at 1029 nm, using direct pulse amplification. The fundamental beam produced was near-diffraction-limited (M(2)<1.3). Second-harmonic-generation is achieved using a 20 mm long noncritically phase-matched Lithium triborate (LiB3O5) crystal; conversion efficiencies as high as 58% have been observed. At 100 W of 514.5 nm output power, the average M(2) value was 1.35. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest average power picosecond green pulsed laser.

We have obtained absorption spectroscopic cross sections as a function of wavelength for the laser material Ho:YAG at 295, 175, and 83 K, in the spectral range from 1700 to 2200 nm. The absorption range corresponds to (5)I8-(5)I7 transitions from the ground state to the first excited state amenable to direct pumping by laser diodes and Tm fiber lasers. The data allow a direct comparison of the absorption cross-section intensities and linewidths as temperature is lowered from room temperature to cryogenic temperatures. Universal absorption curves and numerical tables are presented for pump sources that are assumed to have a gaussian spectral lineshape, as a function of center wavelength, bandwidth, and optical density (doping density×penetration depth), at 295 and 83 K. Curves and tables are presented for both 295 and 83 K and may be used to optimize the pump absorption and laser efficiency.

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