Laser and spectral properties of Cr, Tm, Ho:YAG at 2.1 μm

Author

Bowman, Steven R. ; Winings, M.J. ; Auyeung, Raymond C Y ; Tucker, J.E. ; Searles, Stuart K. ; Feldman, Barry J.

Author_Institution

US Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA

Volume

27

Issue

9

fYear

1991

fDate

9/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2142

Lastpage

2149

Abstract

The authors study the loss process in a uniformly pumped amplifier experiment. The impact of the loss mechanism on laser performance is discussed and its dependence on excited state density is considered. An extensive set of measurements was performed on flashlamp pumped YAG crystals doped with chromium, thulium, and holmium. Near-room-temperature laser operation on the 2.1 μm holmium transitions was characterized using a frequency selective resonator. Small signal gain and stored energy lifetimes were analyzed to determine the strength and dependence of loss mechanisms. The analysis of the thermal lensing experiments demonstrated a high degree of excess heat generation in this material

Keywords

chromium; holmium; laser transitions; optical pumping; solid lasers; thulium; 2.1 micron; YAG:Cr,Tm,Ho; YAl5O12:Cr,Tm,Ho; excess heat generation; excited state density; flashlamp pumped YAG crystals; frequency selective resonator; laser performance; loss mechanism; loss process; small signal gain; spectral properties; stored energy lifetimes; thermal lensing experiments; uniformly pumped amplifier experiment; Chromium; Crystals; Laser excitation; Laser transitions; Performance evaluation; Performance loss; Pump lasers; Resonant frequency; Signal analysis; Thermal lensing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.135173

Filename

135173