805-nm diode-pumped continuous-wave 2-µm laser performance of Tm3+:BaGd2(MoO4)4 cleavage plate.

End-pumped by a single-stripe 805-nm diode laser, a maximum continuous-wave output power of 290 mW with slope efficiency of 42% and 90 mW with slope efficiency of 44% around 2 µm were achieved in a 1.6-mm-thickness, unprocessed 7.2 at.% Tm3+:BaGd2(MoO4)4 cleavage plate in a hemispherical and plano–plano cavities, respectively, when the absorbed pump power was 830 mW. The dependence of the polarization of output laser on the output coupler transmission was investigated. The influence of upconversion on the laser performance was analyzed. The results show that the unprocessed Tm3+:BaGd2(MoO4)4 cleavage plate is a promising 2-µm laser gain medium pumped by diode laser around 808 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]