Diode-Pumped 1-W Continuous-Wave Er:YAG 3-um Laser

摘要

We have demonstrated 1.15 W of Gaussian like (M(sup 2) = 2) cw output at 2.94, micrometers from a diode laser end pumped monolithic laser crystal composed of Er doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) bonded to undoped YAG. The laser was pumped with two polarization coupled 2.5 W flared laser diodes that provided a 45 micrometers pump waist with a low N.A. (< 0.04). Output at 2.94 micrometers was generated with a 34% slope efficiency and a greater than unity quantum efficiency.