Widely tunable, narrow bandwidth, mJ level Tm:YAP laser with YAG Etalons

A Pulsed, narrow-band, tunable, end-pumped Tm:YAP laser is demonstrated in this paper. The 35 nm wavelength continuous tunability ranges from 1926 to 1961 nm, having a spectral linewidth of 0.15 nm FWHM. The tuning and spectral band narrowing were obtained using a pair of YAG Fabry-Perot Etalons. The laser was actively Q-switched using an acousto-optic modulator. At a repetition rate of 1 kHz, maximum energy per pulse of 2.3 mJ and a pulse duration of 29.5 ns were achieved, corresponding to a peak power of 80 kW. Pulse energy of mJ level was measured along with the whole laser tunability range. Slope efficiency of 31% was obtained for an absorbed pump power of 11.5 W. The combination of high pulsed energies and tunability in this special wavelength region with narrow bandwidth, allows this laser to be a suitable tool for biomedical, sensing and material processing applications.

Automated summary

This paper demonstrates a pulsed, narrow-band, tunable Tm:YAP laser with high pulse energy and wide wavelength range, suitable for biomedical, sensing, and material processing applications.