Continuous-wave-tunable and passively Q-switched 2.9 µm Ho,Pr:LiLuF₄ lasers

Abstract

A wavelength tuning experiment of a continuous-wave Ho,Pr:LiLuF 4 bulk laser operating at 2900 nm has been demonstrated for the first time. Two wavelength-tunable bands in the ranges of 2830-2902 nm and 2945-2956 nm were obtained. In addition, by using a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror, a high-peak-power passively Q-switched operation was realized. The shortest pulse width was 395 ns with a repetition rate of 7.29 kHz, corresponding to a peak power of 51.1 W. The results indicate the potential of Ho,Pr:LLF crystals for continuouswave-tunable and passively Q-switched lasers operating at ~3.0 µm.