High Peak Power Acousto-Optically Q-Switched Ho:Y2O3 Ceramic Laser at 2117 nm

We demonstrate high peak power acousto-optically (AO) Q-switched operation of a 2117 nm Ho:Y ₂ O ₃ ceramic laser pumped with a high brightness fiber laser source at 1931 nm. Lasing output characteristics at different pulse repetition rate are examined, and over 20 W of average output power has been generated at a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of 10 kHz for 42.6 W of absorbed pump power. The corresponding pulse energy, pulse duration and peak power are 2.0 mJ, 33.1 ns and 60 kW, respectively. The prospects for further improvement in output performance are discussed.