Abstract

Diode pumped Tm:YAG laser operation in the eyesafe 2µm region is of great interest due to its numerous applications in important areas such as LIDAR and medicine. However, efficient end-pumping of this transition has proved problematic due to its quasi-three-level nature which requires a pump beam of high intensity and rather small diameter. This has been difficult to achieve with high power diode bars on account of the inconvenient shape of their output beam. Generally these lasers have been operated at reduced temperature to alleviate the reabsorption associated with the quasi-three level character.

© 1996 IEEE