Open AccessEfficient 1645 nm continuous-wave and Q‑switched Er:YAG laser pumped by 1532 nm narrow-band laser diode
Author(s) -
Liang Zhu,
Mingjian Wang,
Jun Zhou,
Weibiao Chen
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.19.026810
Subject(s) - materials science , slope efficiency , laser , photon upconversion , optics , diode , continuous wave , optoelectronics , rod , quantum efficiency , doping , laser diode , energy conversion efficiency , wavelength , fiber laser , physics , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
Energy transfer upconversion induced thermal effects are mainly responsible for the low efficiency of laser diode pumped Er:YAG lasers. The current work adopts Er:YAG rods with 0.25% Er(3+) doping concentration, instead of the commonly used rods with 0.5% Er(3+) doping concentration. Results show that the thermal effect is greatly alleviated. A continuous-wave output of 10.2 W is obtained using 31 W incident pump power. Optical-optical efficiency is approximately 33%. Slope efficiency, with respect to the absorbed pump power, is as high as 83%, which is close to the quantum efficiency. In a Q-switched operation, 7 mJ pulses with a pulse width of ~65 ns are obtained at 100 Hz PRF.