Diode pumped Ho:YAG and Ho:LuAG lasers, Q-switching and second harmonic generation

Direct diode pumped Ho:YAG generated laser pulses at 2.12 mu m with an optical to optical slope efficiency of 0.24. Ho:YAG and Ho:LuAG laser rods were evaluated with both wide and narrow bandwidth pump diodes. The laser wavelength varies with the level of pumping and optical design. This variation was found to be predictable. Second harmonic at 1.06 mu m was produced in a 6.0 mm long BBO crystal.