EFFICIENT CW DIODE-PUMPED TM, HO-YLF LASER WITH TUNABILITY NEAR 2.067 MU-M

A conversion efficiency of 42% and slope efficiency of approximately 60% relative to absorbed pump power are reported from a continuous wave diode-pumped Tm, Ho:YLF laser at 2-mu-m with output power of 84 mW at sub-ambient temperatures. The emission spectrum is etalon tunable over a range of 16 cm-1 centered on 2.067-mu-m with fine tuning capability of the transition frequency with crystal temperature at a measured rate of approximately -0.03 cm-1. K-1. The effective emission cross section is measured to be 5 x 10(-21) cm2. These and other aspects of the laser performance are discussed in the context of calculated atmospheric absorption characteristics in this spectral region and potential use in remote sensing applications.