Compact and High-Power 2 μm Lasers: Advancing Applications in Various Fields

The 2 μm laser has emerged as a highly sought-after technology owing to its high eye safety and proximity to the absorption peaks of water molecules and CO2, making it widely used in various applications such as differential absorption lidar, minimally invasive medical surgery, atmospheric environment detection, and material processing [1-4]. Moreover, the 2 μm laser has also been recognized as a reliable pump source for optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) to directly generate mid to far-infrared lasers [5, 6]. However, with the increasing demand for miniaturization and reliability of laser systems in related fields, the need for compact and near-room temperature high power 2 μm lasers has become more pronounced. Therefore, the development of such lasers holds great promise in promoting their application in a wide range of fields.