High efficiency 2 micrometer laser utilizing wing-pumped Tm.sup.3+ and a laser diode array end-pumping architecture

Patent · 01 January 1997

OSTI ID:871241

Beach, Raymond J ^[1]

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1. Livermore, CA

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.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5689522
• OSTI ID: 871241
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

efficiency
micrometer
laser
utilizing
wing-pumped
tm
diode
array
end-pumping
architecture
pumping
doped
pumped
solid
generates
radiation
average
powers
arrays
end-pump
rod
slab
absorption
band
near
785
nm
results
2-for-1
quantum
concentrations
allows
thermal
power
generated
distributed
volume
management
practical
medium
operation
approach
applicable
cw
q-switched
rep-pulsed
free-laser
thermal management
power generated
absorption band
diode arrays
laser generates
laser operation
laser rod
laser diode
laser radiation
average power
diode array
power operation
quantum efficiency
thermal power
laser utilizing
pumped solid
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