title: Passively Q-switched diode-pumped Er:YAG solid-state laser.
abstract: We demonstrated laser operation of a passively Q-switched diode-pumped Er:YAG solid-state laser emitting at 1645 or 1617 nm depending on the initial transmission of the Cr:ZnSe saturable absorber. The crystal emitted up to 10 W at 1645 nm and up to 8 W at 1617 nm in CW mode while pumped with 65 W of incident pump power at 1533 nm. In passive Q-switched mode with 40 W of incident power, a Cr:ZnSe saturable absorber with initial transmission of 85% led to 330 μJ pulse energy, 61 ns pulse duration at a repetition rate of 1460 Hz at 1645 nm. An 80% initial transmission Cr:ZnSe sample led to 510 μJ energy pulses, 41 ns pulse duration at a repetition rate of 820 Hz with a central wavelength change from 1645 to 1617 nm. This is the first reported passively Q-switched diode-pumped Er:YAG laser operating on the (4)I(13/2)→(4)I(15/2) transition.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Charles Fabry, Institut d'Optique, CNRS, Univ Paris-Sud, Palaiseau, France. adrien.aubourg@institutoptique.fr
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aubourg
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Didierjean
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aubry
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Balembois
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Georges