44  mJ, 2.1  μm single-frequency Ho:YAG amplifier

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Optical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• High-energy, single-frequency lasers are crucial for various scientific and industrial applications.
• Developing efficient amplification systems for specific wavelengths, like 2.1 μm, presents significant engineering challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a high-energy, single-frequency two-stage amplifier system operating at 2.1 μm.
• To investigate the performance characteristics, including output energy and beam quality, of the developed amplifier.

Main Methods:

• A two-stage amplification architecture was designed and implemented.
• The first stage utilized a double-end-pumped Tm:YLF laser seeding a Ho:YAG laser (15 mJ, 200 Hz).
• The second stage employed end-pumping with another Tm:YLF laser.

Main Results:

• The amplifier delivered a maximum output energy of 44 mJ at 2.1 μm.
• The output pulse width was measured to be 113 ns.
• An excellent beam quality with M² factor of approximately 1.32 was achieved.

Conclusions:

• The demonstrated two-stage amplifier efficiently produces high-energy, single-frequency pulses at 2.1 μm.
• The system's performance, particularly its energy output and beam quality, is suitable for demanding applications.
• This work advances the development of powerful laser sources for research and technology.