Passive Q-switching of a diode-pumped Tm:YAG laser by Cr/sup 2+/:ZnSe

We present a diode-end pumped Tm:YAG laser passive Q-switched by a Cr/sup 2+/:ZnSe crystal for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. A maximum output power of 1.6 W with pulse energies up to 0.4 mJ and pulse widths of 300 ns were obtained. Using this laser as a pump source for a Cr/sup 2+/:ZnSe laser an output power of 360 mW at 2.5 /spl mu/m was achieved.