Power scaling of Tm:YAG slab ceramic laser

Abstract

We describe the high power operation of transparent Tm:YAG ceramic lasers end-pumped by a 80 W laser-diode bar at 782 nm. The optimization of the Tm 3+ -ion doping concentration and the laser configuration for high power Tm:YAG ceramic lasers are investigated. We obtain the continuous wave (CW) output power of 24.6 W with the slope efficiency of 38.2% from a 6 at.% Tm:YAG ceramic slab laser. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest output average-power of diode-bar end-pumped Tm:YAG ceramic lasers ever reported.