Laser devices utilizing alexandrite laser operating at or near its gain peak as shorter-wavelength pumping sources and methods of use thereof

A system comprising:

• (i) an Alexandrite laser pumping subsystem;
• wherein the Alexandrite laser pumping subsystem is configured to:
• 1) produce wavelengths between 700 and 820 nm, and
• 2) produce a pump pulse having:
• i) a duration between 1 to 10 milliseconds, and
• ii) an energy measuring up to 100 Joules;
• wherein the Alexandrite laser pumping subsystem comprises:
• 1) at least one optical fiber, and
• 2) at least one Lens system,
• wherein the at least one optical fiber is configured to deliver an Alexandrite output beam of an Alexandrite gain medium into the at least one Lens system;
• (ii) a Thulium doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Tm:YAG) laser subsystem;
• wherein the Tm:YAG laser subsystem comprises:
• 1) a Tm:YAG gain medium;
• wherein a Tm:YAG gain medium of the Tm:YAG laser subsystem is optically pumped by the Alexandrite laser pumping subsystem;
• wherein the Tm:YAG gain medium is doped with Tm3+ ions to a concentration of between 1% and 50% Tm3+ ions;
• and
• wherein the at least one Lens system is configured to collimate the Alexandrite output beam from the at least one optical fiber to a size that is smaller than a diameter of the Tm:YAG gain medium;
• 2) a rod heat sink,
• wherein the rod heat sink encases the Tm:YAG gain medium;
• and
• 3) at least one cooling device,
• wherein the at least one cooling device is configured to stabilize the temperature of the Tm:YAG gain medium;
• (iii) a wavelength selecting device,
• wherein the wavelength selecting device is configured to deliver a wavelength between 1.75 microns to 2.1 microns;
• and
• wherein the system is configured to produce a high energy conversion efficiency at:
• 1) multi-Joule-Level pulse energies and
• 2) multi-Watt Level average powers.