Diode- pumped multilayer Yb:YAG composite ceramic laser

All-ceramic multilayer composite ytterbium doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Yb:YAG) laser gain medium with doping concentration distribution of 0-5-10-15-20-15-10-5-0 at.% Yb ions was successfully fabrication by the technique of tape casting and simple vacuum sintering process. Full dense microstructure is achieved, and excellent optical properties are gained. The obtained result shows that the optical transmittance of >80% is reached when the wavelength is larger than 500 nm. The emission cross section is 4.03 x 10(-20) cm(2) at the wavelength of 1030 nm. Continuous wave (CW) laser performance is further demonstrated when the sample is pumped by 940 nm fiber-coupler diode laser. The threshold absorbed pump power is 5.9 W, and the slope efficiency attains to 27% with transmission of output coupler of 6%. (C) 2012 by Astro, Ltd.