Abstract

A comparison of the room-temperature operation of diode-pumped continuous wave thulium doped YAP and YAG lasers is reported. A markedly superior conversion efficiency using 4.2% doped Tm:YAP was measured, 730 mW of laser output being generated with a 3 W pump diode, representing a 42% conversion of absorbed diode light to laser output. With 6% Tm:YAG, laser output was restricted to 270 mW, a 21% conversion efficiency. Both lasers were found to generate diffraction-limited output. Greater upconversion losses in YAG than YAP are proposed as a factor contributing to its poorer laser performance.

© 1998 Optical Society of America