Ceramic Yb: YAG microchip laser

An efficient microchip laser utilizing domestically fabricated ceramic Yb:YAG is presented. In continuous-wave (cw) and Q-switched operation, the laser maintains linear polarization with 22 dB extinction and oscillates in the fundamental TEM00 mode. In cw mode, the ceramic laser has an output power of 2.25 W and a slope efficiency of 66%. When passively Q-switched at 11.4 kHz repetition rate using Cr:YAG, the 1.9 ns pulse has an average power of 0.72 W and a slope efficiency of 46%. To our knowledge, this is currently the highest reported power from a ceramic Yb:YAG laser. The laser performance of the 5-at.% ceramic is compared to a 10-at.% single crystal, and we discuss how the scattering loss and storage efficiency of the ceramic medium affect its laser characteristics.

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