Self-Q-switched and wavelength-tunable tungsten disulfide-based passively Q-switched Er:Y2O3 ceramic lasers

We report on diode-pumped Er:Y2O3 ceramic lasers at about 2.7 mu m in the tunable continuous-wave, selfQ- switching and tungsten disulfide (WS2)-based passively Q-switching regimes. For stable self-Q-switched operation, the maximum output power reaches 106.6 mW under an absorbed power of 2.71 W. The shortest pulse width is measured to be about 1.39 mu s at a repetition rate of 26.7 kHz at maximum output. Using a spin-coated WS2 as a saturable absorber, a passively Q-switched Er:Y2O3 ceramic laser is also realized with a maximum average output power of 233.5 mW(for the first time, to the best of our knowledge). The shortest pulse width decreases to 0.72 mu s at a corresponding repetition rate of 29.4 kHz, which leads to a pulse energy of 7.92 mu J and a peak power of 11.0 W. By inserting an undoped YAG thin plate as a Fabry - Perot etalon, for the passive Q switching, wavelength tunings are also demonstrated at around 2710, 2717, 2727, and 2740 nm. (C) 2018 Chinese Laser Press