High efficiency 2 micrometer laser utilizing wing-pumped Tm.sup.3+ and a laser diode array end-pumping architecture
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorRaymond J. Beach
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Wing pumping a Tm.sup.3+ doped, end pumped solid state laser generates 2 .mu.m laser radiation at high average powers with high efficiency. Using laser diode arrays to end-pump the laser rod or slab in the wing of the Tm.sup.3+ absorption band near 785 nm results in 2-for-1 quantum efficiency in Tm.sup.3+ because high Tm.sup.3+ concentrations can be used. Wing pumping allows the thermal power generated in the rod or slab to be distributed over a large enough volume to make thermal management practical in the laser gain medium even at high average power operation. The approach is applicable to CW, Q-switched, and rep-pulsed free-laser operation.
Claims17
An apparatus, comprising:
- a laser crystal doped with Tm.sup.3+ ions and having an end pump face coated to transmit light within a first range of about 755 nm to about 815 nm, said laser crystal comprising an output face, wherein said end pump face is coated to reflect light at about 2 micrometers;
- and
- means for end pumping said laser crystal at a wavelength located on the wings of its main absorption feature, wherein said main absorption feature is located at approximately 785 nm, wherein said wings are located within a second range and a third range, wherein said second range is from about 755 nm to about 775 nm and wherein said third range is from about 790 nm to about 815 nm, wherein said Tm.sup.3+ ions produce laser light when said laser crystal doped with Tm.sup.3+ ions is end pumped at said wavelength located on said wings of said main absorption feature of said laser crystal, wherein said laser crystal is operable at high average power.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a laser crystal doped with Tm.sup.3+ ions and having an end pump face coated to transmit light within a first range of about 755 nm to about 815 nm, said laser crystal comprising an output face, wherein said end pump face is coated to reflect light at about 2 micrometers, wherein said crystal comprises about 4% Tm.sup.3+ in a host material of YAG, wherein said crystal comprises an end pump face coated to transmit light at about 805 nm;
- and
- means for end pumping said laser crystal at 805 nm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.