High-pulse-energy, actively Q-switched Tm^3+,Ho^3+-codoped silica 2μm fiber laser

A diode-pumped Q-switched Tm(3+),Ho(3+)-codoped double-clad silica fiber laser is reported providing average powers of up to 12.3 W at 2072.7 nm and stable pulse widths of only 45 ns and repetition rates in the range 10-100 kHz. Instabilities in pulse shape occur at nonoptimum cavity alignment and were found to be linked to the mechanism responsible for self mode locking.