Tm(3+):YLF laser continuously tunable between 2.20 and 2.46 microm.

Area of Science:

• Solid-state laser physics
• Materials science
• Photonics and optoelectronics

Background:

• Thulium (Tm3+)-doped materials are crucial for developing lasers in the mid-infrared region.
• Achieving efficient, room-temperature laser operation in Tm3+-doped crystals remains a significant challenge.
• The (3)H(4)-(3)H(5) transition in Tm3+ ions is a promising pathway for generating specific infrared wavelengths.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate room-temperature, continuous-wave (CW) laser action in Tm3+-doped YLF.
• To investigate the performance characteristics, including output power and slope efficiency.
• To explore the tunability range of the developed laser system.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a thulium-doped Yttrium Lithium Fluoride (Tm3+-doped YLF) crystal as the gain medium.
• Employed a 0.78 micrometer (µm) laser diode for optical pumping.
• Operated the laser in a continuous-wave (CW) mode at room temperature.

Main Results:

• Successfully achieved room-temperature, CW laser action at 2.3 µm, corresponding to the Tm3+ (3)H(4)-(3)H(5) transition.
• Obtained a maximum output power of 200 milliwatts (mW) with a slope efficiency of 15% for 2 W of pump power.
• Demonstrated continuous tunability of the laser output from 2.20 µm to 2.46 µm.

Conclusions:

• Room-temperature CW laser operation at 2.3 µm is feasible in Tm3+-doped YLF.
• The achieved output power and slope efficiency indicate a promising performance for practical applications.
• The broad tunability of the laser makes it a versatile source for spectroscopy and other photonic technologies.