2.94 μm diode side pumped ErYAG laser

Abstract

We have demonstrated an average output power of 10 W quasi-continuous-wave mid-infrared laser at 2.94 μm from a diode laser (LD) side-pumped Er-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) crystal. The Er:YAG crystal was composed of Er-doped (50% doped) (YAG) bonded to undoped YAG. The LD was operated at a repetition rate of 150Hz and a pulse-width of 300 μs. The optical-optical conversion efficiency and the slope efficiency were 5.6% and 9.1%, respectively. The slope efficiency was not saturation yet, a higher output power can be expected with a higher LD pump power and colder temperature of the Er:YAG crystal.