Hybrid Q-switched Tm:YAG ceramic laser with acousto-optic modulator and Cr:ZnSe crystal

We report on a hybrid Q-switched Tm:YAG ceramic laser emitting near 2 µm with an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) and a Cr:ZnSe crystal. Stable laser pulse could be achieved for 0.1–1 kHz repetition frequency. The narrowest pulse duration of 67.6 ns was yielded at a repetition frequency of 0.1 kHz with the maximum single pulse peak power of 27.7 kW. Maximum average output power of 517 mW was obtained at 1 kHz. The laser wavelength was located at 2013.6 nm with the wavelength bandwidth of ~ 0.1 nm. The good laser beam quality was achieved with M2 < 1.2 in both x and y axes.