Single mode Tm and Tm,Ho:LuAG lasers for LIDAR applications

TLDR

The study reports diode‑pumped single‑mode Tm:LuAG and Tm,Ho:LuAG lasers developed as master oscillators for airborne LIDAR. A new four‑fold pump configuration produced 51 mW from a Tm(10 %):LuAG laser at room temperature, while multi‑mode operation yielded 130 mW (36 % slope efficiency). The Tm(10 %):Ho(0.4 %):LuAG laser is more temperature‑sensitive, delivering 18 mW at room temperature and 30 mW at 0 °C, whereas multi‑mode operation reached 130 mW at room temperature.

Abstract

In this paper we report on diode pumped single mode Tm:LuAG and Tm,Ho:LuAG lasers which are developed as master oscillators for an airborne LIDAR system. Using a new fourfold pump setup 51 mW of output power with a Tm(10%):LuAG laser were reached at room temperature. The Tm(10%),Ho(0.4%):LuAG laser proved to be more temperature sensitive than the Tm laser. 18 mW and 30 mW of single mode laser output could be achieved at room temperature and 0°C, respectively. In multi mode laser operation 130 mW output power at room temperature (slope efficiency 36%) were achieved.