50-mJ, Q-switched, 2.09-microm holmium laser resonantly pumped by a diode-pumped 1.9-microm thulium laser.
We report >50-mJ Q-switched energy output from a 2.09-microm Ho:YAG oscillator, resonantly pumped at 1.9-microm by a diode-pumped Tm:YLF laser. We demonstrate a Q-switched-to-normal-mode extraction efficiency of 100% at an output energy of 30 mJ and over 64% at the 50-mJ output level. Operating at 50 mJ (60 Hz) of output, a pulse width of 14 ns is achieved from the holmium oscillator, which corresponds to approximately 3.6 MW of peak power. At the 50-mJ output level, a beam-propagation factor M2 approximately 1.2 is achieved.
Budni
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BAE Systems, PO Box 868, Nashua, New Hampshire 03060-0868, USA.
Ibach
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Setzler
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Gustafson
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Castro
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Chicklis
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