Efficient single-axial-mode operation of a Ho:YAG ring laser pumped by a Tm-doped silica fiber laser

Abstract

Efficient single-frequency operation of a Ho:YAG ring laser at room temperature with a traveling-wave ${\mathrm{TeO}}_2$ acousto-optic modulator to enforce unidirectional operation is reported. By use of a 2-at. % ${\mathrm{Ho}}^{3+}$-doped 10-mm-long Ho:YAG rod, end pumped by a cladding-pumped tunable Tm-doped silica fiber operating at $1.9 \mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$, the Ho:YAG ring laser yielded 3.7 W of single-frequency output at $2.1 \mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ in a diffraction-limited ${\mathrm{TEM}}_{00}$ beam with $M^2<1.1$ for an incident pump power of 8.8 W. The rf power required for unidirectional operation was 0.3 W and corresponded to an increase in cavity loss for the lasing direction (due to diffraction) of only 0.5%. The prospects for further improvement in efficiency are discussed.

© 2004 Optical Society of America

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