Efficient Yb3+:Y3Al5O12 ceramic microchip lasers

Low-threshold and highly efficient continuous-wave (cw) Yb3+:Y3Al5O12 (Yb:YAG) ceramic laser with near-diffraction-limited beam quality was demonstrated at room temperature. Dual-wavelength operation at 1030 and 1049 nm with 5% transmission of the output coupler was achieved by varying pump power intensity. Slope efficiencies of 79% at 1030 nm and 67% at 1049 nm were achieved for 1-mm-thick Yb:YAG ceramic plate (C-Yb=9.8 at. %) under cw laser-diode pumping. The effect of pump power on the laser emission spectra of both wavelengths is addressed. Excellent laser performance indicates that Yb:YAG ceramic laser materials could be potentially used in high-power solid-state lasers. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.