Dual Use Mid-Infrared Laser For Surgery and Ship Defense

Significant deficiencies exist in the laser source technology for IRCM, specifically in the limited pulse rep-rate capability, limited average power output and capability to be transitioned to field environments. We propose a diode pumped solid state Er,Ho:YSGG laser and optical parametric oscillator to resolve these deficiencies. This laser has a potential dual use market in micro-surgery where the surrounding heat affected zone must be minimized. This laser is well suited for micro surgery due to its strong absorption in tissue and its potential to be delivered via an optical fiber. The primary innovation in the laser is the use of a hohnuim co-dopant to deactivate the erbium lower laser level, enabling the erbium doping concentration to be reduced. The co-dopant enables high rep rate Q-switching by deactivating the lower laser level and improved output power scaling compared to non co-doped erbium compounds due to the larger thermal conductivity with lower erbium doping concentration. The 2.7 gm output from the laser can be used to pump existing OPO crystals where they have low bulk absorption compared to 1 and 2 gm pumping and should therefore have improved mid-IR output power and rep-rate scaling.