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Directly diode-pumped tunable continuous-wave room-temperature Cr4+:YAG laser.
I T Sorokina1, S Naumov, E Sorokin
1Institut für Photonik, Technische Universität Wien, Gusshausstrasse 27/378, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
Optics Letters
|December 15, 2007
Summary
Researchers developed the first diode-pumped tunable continuous-wave chromium-doped YAG (Cr:YAG) laser operating near 1.5 micrometers. This laser achieved 200 mW output power and showed potential degradation due to photorefractive effects.
Area of Science:
- Laser physics
- Materials science
- Solid-state optics
Background:
- Diode-pumped lasers offer efficient and compact solutions for various applications.
- Chromium-doped YAG (Cr:YAG) crystals are known for their potential as laser gain media.
- Tunable continuous-wave lasers are crucial for spectroscopy, telecommunications, and sensing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the first directly diode-pumped tunable continuous-wave Cr:YAG laser.
- To characterize the laser's performance, including output power and tunability.
- To investigate potential limitations such as output degradation.
Main Methods:
- Direct diode pumping of a Cr:YAG crystal.
- Characterization of laser output power and wavelength tunability.
- Observation and analysis of laser output stability over time.
Main Results:
- Successfully operated a tunable continuous-wave Cr:YAG laser with over 120 nm tunability near 1.5 micrometers.
- Achieved 200 mW of output power at room temperature with 4 W of absorbed pump power.
- Observed slow laser output degradation and bleaching in highly concentrated crystals.
Conclusions:
- Direct diode pumping is a viable method for Cr:YAG lasers.
- The observed degradation suggests a photorefractive phenomenon in concentrated Cr:YAG crystals.
- Further research is needed to mitigate degradation for practical applications.
