Crystal growth, spectroscopic characterization and laser operation of Tm3+ and Ho3+ codoped LiLuF4 crystal

Abstract

Laser crystal Tm 3+ and Ho 3+ codoped LiLuF 4 with high optical quality was grown by Czochralski technique. Its absorption and fluorescence spectra were investigated. A continuous wave output power of 1.12 W at 2066 nm was obtained with a slope efficiency of 24% by use of diode pumping. In the Q switched mode, a slope efficiency of 18.9% and a maximum average power of 0.65 W were obtained.

Generation of 40 ns laser pulses by a diode-pumped passively Q-switched Tm,Ho:YLF laser

“…In singly doped Ho-lasers, substantially smaller reduction has been reported [12][13][14]; however, similar reduction in the slope efficiency from CW to PQS operation by a factor of >3 was observed with Tm,Ho:LLF [8,9]. This reduction was also smaller in actively Q-switched Tm,Ho:YLF [11] and Tm,Ho:LLF [20] lasers, which indicates that losses in the SA (e.g. incomplete saturation) might also play a role in the present experiment.…”