Efficient Diode-Pumped Tm:YALO₃ Laser with a Pump Recycling Scheme

By using a pump recycling configuration, the maximum power of 8.1W in the wavelength range 1.935--1.938μm is generated by a 5-mm long Tm:YAlO₃ (4 at.%) laser operating at 18°C with a pump power of 24W. The highest slope efficiency of 42% is attained, and the pump quantum efficiency is up to 100%. The Tm:YAlO₃ laser is employed as a pumping source of singly-doped Ho(1%):GdVO₄ laser operating at room temperature, in which continuous wave output power of greater than 0.2W at 2.05μm is achieved with a slope
efficiency of 9%.