Actively Q-switched operation of a resonantly pumped polycrystalline ceramic Ho:YAG laser

The high peak power hybrid polycrystalline ceramic Ho:YAG laser, resonantly pumped by a Tm:fiber laser at the wavelength of 1907 nm, was reported. With an output coupler of 20% transmission and a 1.5 at.% Ho-doped YAG ceramic sample, up to 1.90 mJ energy/pulse at pulse repetition frequency of 500 Hz and 280-kW peak power with the shortest pulse duration of 6.8 ns, were demonstrated under 5.4 W of incident pump power.