Theoretical modeling and design of a Tm, Ho:YLiF_4 microchip laser

Abstract

We present theoretical modeling that makes it possible to compute the output characteristics of a laser-pumped codoped Tm, Ho microchip laser and the experimental results already obtained with a Tm, Ho:YLiF(4) crystal. By taking into account the match of the pump beam to the self-induced eigenmode of the cavity, we find good agreement between theory and experiment when the pump beam size is properly adjusted relative to the absorbed pump power and the crystal characteristics.

Microchip laser operation of Tm,Ho:KLu(WO_4)_2 crystal

“…The presented results surpass all previous reported diode-pumped Tm,Hocodoped microchip lasers with repect to the output power performance [12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. The laser generates 451 mW of CW output power at 2081 nm with a maximum slope efficiency of 31% (optical-to-optical efficiency of 16%).…”

“…Most developed are the Tm,Ho:YLF microchip lasers. Indeed, ~1 W of CW output at 2068 nm with a slope efficiency of 54% was obtained from such a laser under Ti:Sapphire pumping [12]. Subsequently, diode-pumping was also studied [13], yielding ~300 mW of CW output with slightly reduced slope efficiency of 49%.…”

Review of Tm and Ho materials; spectroscopy and lasers

“…[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] The approach is usually to construct a set of rate equations governing the populations of all the manifolds that have an impact on the laser performance. In the case of Tm:Ho co-doped systems, the number of manifolds to consider can number 10 or more.…”

Passive Q-switching of a Tm,Ho:KLu(WO_4)_2 microchip laser by a Cr:ZnS saturable absorber

“…Such a compact, robust, and misalignment-free design provides low intracavity losses and high laser efficiency. Continuous wave (CW) Tm,Ho microchip lasers were realized with a number of hosts such as LiYF 4 , YAlO 3 , YVO 4 , and GdVO 4 [8][9][10][11][12]. Recently, we studied potassium lutetium double tungstate, KLuWO 4 2 or KLuW for short, which has proved to be very suitable host for rare earth doping [13].…”