Diode-pumped 2 /spl mu/m optical oscillator for high-resolution spectroscopy and frequency metrology

Diode-pumped Tm:YAG and Tm-Ho:YAG lasers operating near room temperature with continuous-wave emission at 2 /spl mu/m have been developed. A thorough characterization in both multi- and single-longitudinal mode regimes has been performed by experimentally determining the corresponding threshold and slope efficiency values. Continuous-wave output powers of more than 70 mW and 35 mW have been obtained in single-longitudinal mode operation near room temperature for Tm:YAG and Tm-Ho:YAG lasers, respectively.