Compact passively Q-switched Tm:YLF laser with a polycrystalline Cr:ZnS saturable absorber

A compact passively Q-switched diode-pumped Tm:YLF laser with polycrystalline Cr:ZnS as the saturable absorber is demonstrated. In the Q-switching regime, the maximum average output power reached 478 mW with the incident pump power of 16 W, which is the highest average output power for PQS Tm: YLF laser up to now. The maximum pulse energy of 529 mu J was obtained with 8.96 kW peak power and 59 ns pulse duration near 1.9 mu m, respectively. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.