High-power and widely tunable Tm-doped fiber laser at 2 μm

Efficient, high-power, and widely tunable Tm-doped fiber lasers cladding-pumped by diode lasers at 791 nm are demonstrated by use of an external cavity containing a diffraction grating. A maximum output power of 62 W is obtained at 2 004 nm for 140 W of launched pump power, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 48% with respect to launched pump power. The operating wavelength is tunable over 200 nm (1 895 to 2 109 nm), with >52 W of output power over a tuning range of 140 nm (1 926 to 2 070 nm). Prospects for further improvement in output power, lasing efficiency, and tuning range are considered.