Abstract

Efficient 2-μm lasers are needed for many eye-safe laser radar applications. Pumping of a Tm:YAG crystal with the output from a 3-W diode laser has resulted in a cw output power of 0.5 W and Q-switched pulse energies in excess of 1 mJ/pulse at 100 Hz. Improved pump absorption with a near-circular pump beam could result in 2-mJ pulse energies.

© 1991 Optical Society of America

High-power Nd:YAG laser end pumped by a cw, 10 mm × 1 μm aperture, 10-W laser-diode bar

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