Efficient continuous-wave chromium-doped YAG laser

Abstract

Continuous-wave power performance of a chromium-doped YAG laser pumped by a Nd:YAG laser is investigated as a function of crystal temperature, output coupling transmission, and emission wavelength. Using a 2%-transmitting output coupler, we obtained as much as 1.9 W of cw output power at 1.45 μm with an absorbed power slope efficiency of 42% when the gain medium was cooled at 3°C. Using the laser efficiency data, we estimated the emission and excited-state absorption cross sections at 1.45 μm and compared them with the previously reported values.