title: Comparison of a diode pumped Er:YSGG and Er:YAG laser in the bounce geometry at the 3 μm transition.
abstract: A comparative study is made of the laser crystals 50 at. % Er:YAG and 50 at. % Er:YSGG. Both lasers are constructed in the bounce geometry with quasi continuous wave (QCW) diode pumping. In Er:YAG, pulse energies of up to ~31mJ, slope efficiency of 12.6% and a red-shift in laser wavelength are observed with a final and dominant wavelength of 2.936μm. In Er:YSGG, higher performance is achieved with pulse energies of ~55mJ, slope efficiency of 20.5% and a single transition wavelength of 2.797μm observed. The study indicates that diode pumped Er:YSGG is a superior laser source at 3μm than Er:YAG and it has greater energy storage potential for Q-switched operation.
authors.affiliation: The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London, UK. emma.arbabzadah@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arbabzadah
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chard
authors.forename: Hemmel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amrania
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Damzen
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State