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Passively Q-switched Tm:YLF laser.
Raffaele Faoro1, Martin Kadankov, Daniela Parisi
1Max-Born-Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Ultrafast Spectroscopy, Berlin, Germany.
Optics Letters
|May 5, 2012
Summary
Stable Q-switching of a thulium (Tm) laser was achieved using a novel saturable absorber. This resulted in record pulse energy and peak power for passively Q-switched diode-pumped Tm lasers.
Area of Science:
- Laser Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Thulium (Tm) lasers operating around 1.9 μm are valuable for various applications.
- Passive Q-switching offers a compact and efficient method for generating high-energy laser pulses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To achieve stable passive Q-switching in a Tm:LiYF4 laser.
- To explore the performance of polycrystalline Chromium-doped Zinc Sulfide (Cr2+:ZnS) as a saturable absorber for Tm lasers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized polycrystalline Cr2+:ZnS as a saturable absorber in a Tm:LiYF4 laser system.
- Employed a diode-pumped configuration for the laser.
Main Results:
- Successfully demonstrated stable passive Q-switching.
- Achieved a maximum pulse energy of 0.9 mJ.
- Obtained a peak power of 65 kW with a pulse duration of approximately 14 ns.
Conclusions:
- Polycrystalline Cr2+:ZnS is an effective saturable absorber for Tm:LiYF4 lasers.
- The achieved pulse energy and peak power represent significant advancements for passively Q-switched diode-pumped Tm lasers.
