2.07-μm cw diode-laser-pumped Tm,Ho:YLiF 4 room-temperature laser

Continuous-wave action is obtained at 2.07 μm from a 2-mm-long Tm-sensitized Ho:YLiF4 crystal at room temperature when longitudinally pumped by a pair of diode-laser arrays. Laser output power at 300 K is 26 mW, with a 30% slope efficiency and a lasing threshold of 108 mW. A maximum output power of 187 mW is obtained from a 4-mm-long crystal at 77 K, with a 67% slope efficiency. A preliminary demonstration of cavity Q switching produced 165 μJ of pulse energy at a repetition rate of 100 Hz.