Efficient, broadly tunable, laser-pumped Tm:YAG and Tm:YSGG cw lasers

Broadly tunable cw laser emission is reported in Tm:YAG and Tm:YSGG at room temperature with Ti:sapphire laser pumping. The Tm(3+)(3)F(4) ? (3)H(6) transition is tuned continuously over the ranges 1.87-2.16 microm in YAG and 1.85-2.14 microm in YSGG. Smooth tuning results from overlapping transitions between phonon-broadened crystal field Stark levels.