High-power ZGP OPO pumped by a Q-switched Tm3+:Ho3+-codoped fiber laser

We report our latest results in nonlinear mid-infrared frequency conversion using a fiber-based single-oscillator pumping a ZGP-based OPO. To minimize absorption in the ZGP crystal a simplified Q-switched Tm3+:Ho3+-codoped fiber laser was realized, emitting at 2.1 μm. Based on this pump source, mid-infrared output powers up to 12.2 W were achieved with pulse energies up to 271 μJ and conversion efficiencies of 43.4%. Representing an improvement of about 50% over the state-of-the-art.