Mode-locked Tm,Ho:YAP laser around 21 μm

Abstract

A passively mode-locked Tm,Ho:YAP laser around 2.1 μm wavelength employing a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror is demonstrated. Stable continuous wave mode-locking operation was achieved at variable center wavelengths of 2036.5 nm, 2064.5 nm, 2095.5 nm, 2103.5 nm, and 2130 nm, respectively. Pulses as short as 40.4 ps were obtained at 2064.5 nm with a spectral FWHM of 0.5 nm at output powers of 132 mW and a repetition rate around 107 MHz. A maximum output power of 238 mW was obtained at 2130 nm with a pulse duration of 66 ps.