2.07-microm cw diode-laser-pumped Tm, Ho:YLiF(4) room-temperature laser

Continuous-wave action is obtained at 2.07 microm from a 2-mm-long Tm-sensitized Ho:YLiF(4) crystal at room temperature when longitudinally pumped by a pair of diode-laser arrays. Laser output power at 300 K is 26 mW, with a 30% slope efficiency and a lasing threshold of 108 mW. A maximum output power of 187 mW is obtained from a 4-mm-long crystal at 77 K, with a 67% slope efficiency. A preliminary demonstration of cavity Q switching produced 165 microJ of pulse energy at a repetition rate of 100 Hz.