The concept of a diode-end-pumped Tm3+ laser pumping a Ho3+ laser was utilised to develop mid-infrared solid-state laser devices. After presenting an in-depth literature study of the promising material Tm:GdVO4, it was theoretically predicted and experimentally verified that a diode-end-pumped Tm:GdVO4 laser can be operated over a 100 nm wavelength range merely through the appropriate selection of the resonator output coupling value. The output at 1818 nm is the shortest wavelength demonstrated for a multi-watt Tm:GdVO4 laser, while the quasi-continuous-wave output power of 8.7 W at 1915 nm is the highest reported for a diode-end-pumped Tm:GdVO4 laser. A dual-end-pumped Tm:GdVO4 laser operating at 1892 nm was subsequently designed as pump source for a Ho:YLF laser, the implementation of which was demonstrated for the first time. The Q-switched Ho:YLF laser, pumped with a 83 mJ quasi-continuous-wave pulse of 19 ms duration at 5 Hz repetition rate, produced 1.9 mJ in a 17.6 ns pulse at 2051 nm on the π-polarisation, and 2.1 mJ in a 47.7 ns pulse on the σ-polarisation. This initial research work directed the way towards the development of high-energy Ho3+ lasers and amplifiers pumped with alternative high average power Tm3+ laser devices.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:547644 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Esser, M. J. Daniel |
| Contributors | Hall, Denis R. |
| Publisher | Heriot-Watt University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/10399/2612 |
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