Continuous-wave and Q-switched microchip laser performance of Yb:Y3Sc2Al3O12 crystals.
Optical properties of Yb:Y(3)Sc(2)Al(3)O(12) crystal were investigated and compared with those from Yb:YAG crystals. The broad absorption and emission spectra of Yb:Y(3)Sc(2)Al(3)O(12) show that this crystal is very suitable for laser-diode pumping and ultrafast laser pulse generation. Laser-diode pumped continuous-wave and passively Q-switched Yb:Y(3)Sc(2)Al(3)O(12) lasers with Cr(4+):YAG crystals as saturable absorber have been demonstrated for the first time. Continuous-wave output power of 1.12 W around 1032 nm (multi-longitudinal modes) was measured with an optical-to-optical efficiency of 30%. Laser pulses with pulse energy of over 31 microJ and pulse width of 2.5 ns were measured at repetition rate of over 12.7 kHz; a corresponding peak power of over 12 kW was obtained. The longitudinal mode selection by a thin plate of Cr(4+):YAG as an intracavity etalon was also observed in passively Q-switched Yb:Y(3)Sc(2)Al(2)O(12) microchip lasers.
Dong
Jun
J
Institute for Laser Science, University of Electro-Communications, 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan. j.dong@hw.ac.uk
Ueda
Ken-ichi
K
Kaminskii
Alexander A
AA
D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth / Q000737:chemistry*; D008904:Miniaturization; D008962:Models, Theoretical
D008674:Metals, Rare Earth