Manipulation of linearly polarized states in a diode-pumped YAG/Tm:YAG/YAG bulk laser

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrated the manipulation of 2 mu m linearly polarized states in a diode-pumped YAG/Tm: YAG/YAG laser with high polarization extinction ratio of 28 dB for the very first time to the best of our knowledge. A stable linearly polarized state of 2 mu m was achieved without using any specific intracavity optical polarization-selected elements. The unexpected phenomenon of tunable linear polarization directions was observed. Multidistinct linear polarization directions were experimentally obtained, including the peculiar case of switchable orthogonally linear polarization directions. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America