Abstract

We present what is to our knowledge the first demonstration of a 4.7-W cw Tm:YAG laser operating at room temperature by utilizing the extremely low $1.064‐\mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ absorption in Tm:YAG. This proof-of-principle experiment clearly demonstrates the possibility of using a pump absorption that is 2 orders of magnitude $\left(\sim 0.0078 {\mathrm{cm}}^{-1}\right)$ less than that of the conventional pump absorption (typically $>1 {\mathrm{cm}}^{-1}$). This Tm:YAG laser is pumped intracavity within a Nd:YAG laser for multiple-pass absorption. The maximum conversion efficiency of $2.02 \mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ is 20%, with a slope efficiency of 35% with respect to the absorbed $1.064‐\mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ power.

© 2000 Optical Society of America

120-W continuous-wave diode-pumped Tm:YAG laser

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