Power scaling of end-pumped c-cut Tm:YAP lasers

The temperature distributions of a Tm:YAP rod and a Tm:YAP slab were compared theoretically and experimentally. The measured thermal focal length was much longer for a thinner Tm:YAP slab than a Tm:YAP rod and a thicker Tm:YAP slab, indicating weaker thermal effects of a thinner Tm:YAP slab, which was in agreement with the theoretical analysis. Based on thermal effect analysis, laser performance of a c-cut Tm:YAP rod and slab in the dual-end-pumped configuration was compared. Higher slope efficiency and output power were obtained in the slab geometry than in the rod geometry, and the thinner the slab, the better the laser performance.