Passively Q‐switched operation of a Tm:YAP laser with two WS2‐based saturable absorbers

Abstract In this paper, a doubly passively Q‐switched (PQS) Tm:YAP laser was experimentally realized by using two WS 2 ‐based saturable absorbers (SAs) for the first time. Under the doubly PQS operation, the pulse width of 0.93 µs at 1989.3 nm was obtained with an average output power (AOP) of 391 mW and peak power of 4.04 W. While for PQS Tm:YAP laser with single WS 2 ‐based SA, a pulse width of 1.63 µs and an AOP of 676 mW was achieved with a peak power of 3.4 W. The experiment results indicate a conclusion that the doubly PQS technology is an efficient method to further compress the pulse width, enhance the stability of the pulses train, and improve the AOP for the Tm:YAP laser.