Laser devices utilizing alexandrite laser operating at or near its gain peak as shorter-wavelength pumping sources and methods of use thereof

摘要

In some embodiments, the instant invention provides for a system that includes at least the following components: (i) an Alexandrite laser pumping subsystem; where the Alexandrite laser pumping subsystem is configured to: 1) produce wavelengths between 700 and 820 nm, and 2) produce a pump pulse having: i) a duration between 1 to 10 milliseconds, and ii) an energy measuring up to 100 Joules; where the Alexandrite laser pumping subsystem includes: 1) an optical fiber, and 2) a Lens system, (ii) a Thulium doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Tm:YAG) laser subsystem; where the Tm:YAG laser subsystem includes: 1) a Tm:YAG gain medium, 2) a rod heat sink, and 3) at least one cooling device, (iii) a wavelength selecting device, where the wavelength selecting device is configured to deliver a wavelength between 1.75 microns to 2.1 microns; and where the system is configured to produce a high energy conversion efficiency.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
(i) an Alexandrite laser pumping subsystem;
wherein the Alexandrite laser pumping subsystem is configured to:1) produce wavelengths between 700 and 820 nm, and2) produce a pump pulse having:
i) a duration between 1 to 10 milliseconds, andii) an energy measuring up to 100 Joules;wherein the Alexandrite laser pumping subsystem comprises:
1) at least one optical fiber, and2) at least one Lens system,wherein the at least one optical fiber is configured to deliver an Alexandrite output beam of an Alexandrite gain medium into the at least one Lens system; (ii) a Thulium doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Tm:YAG) laser subsystem;
wherein the Tm:YAG laser subsystem comprises:1) a Tm:YAG gain medium;
wherein a Tm:YAG gain medium of the Tm:YAG laser subsystem is optically pumped by the Alexandrite laser pumping subsystem;wherein the Tm:YAG gain medium is doped with Tm3+ ions to a concentration of between 1% and 50% Tm3+ ions; andwherein the at least one Lens system is configured to collimate the Alexandrite output beam from the at least one optical fiber to a size that is smaller than a diameter of the Tm:YAG gain medium;2) a rod heat sink,
wherein the rod heat sink encases the Tm:YAG gain medium; and3) at least one cooling device,
wherein the at least one cooling device is configured to stabilize the temperature of the Tm:YAG gain medium; (iii) a wavelength selecting device,
wherein the wavelength selecting device is configured to deliver a wavelength between 1.75 microns to 2.1 microns; andwherein the system is configured to produce a high energy conversion efficiency at:
1) multi-Joule-Level pulse energies and2) multi-Watt Level average powers.