All-solid-state ultrafast 2 µm laser with 1.83  W output power.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Ultrafast lasers are crucial for various scientific and industrial applications.
• Achieving high output power in mode-locked lasers, especially in the 2 µm wavelength range, remains a challenge.
• Thulium-doped YAP (Tm:YAP) lasers offer potential for generating 2 µm radiation but often suffer from low output power.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a high-power all-solid-state ultrafast 2 µm mode-locked laser.
• To demonstrate a novel approach for increasing output power in Tm:YAP lasers.
• To overcome limitations associated with multi-mode low-brightness laser diode pumping.

Main Methods:

• Simultaneous utilization of two Tm:YAP crystals within a single resonant cavity.
• Independent pumping of each Tm:YAP crystal using two laser diodes.
• Employing a 20% output coupler for power extraction.

Main Results:

• Achieved an output power of 1.83 W at a wavelength of 1938 nm.
• Generated pulses with a duration of 1.97 ps and a repetition frequency of 100 MHz.
• This represents the highest output power reported for a mode-locked Tm:YAP ultrafast laser to date.

Conclusions:

• The dual-crystal Tm:YAP configuration significantly enhances output power.
• This work provides an effective strategy to address low output power issues in diode-pumped ultrafast lasers.
• The developed laser system demonstrates a new benchmark in high-power ultrafast 2 µm generation.