Power scaling of diode-pumped Er:Y2O3 ceramic laser at 2.7 μm

We report on the high-power and room temperature operation of an Er:Y2O3 ceramic laser at similar to 2.7 mu m based on home-developed high optical quality ceramic samples. Pumped directly into the upper laser level with a spectrally narrowed 976 nm laser diode beam shaped to have a 1D top-hat profile, the laser-generated 13.4 W of CW output power with a slope efficiency of 16.0% with respect to absorbed pump power. In a modified resonator design, a lasing slope efficiency of 23.7% has been demonstrated. To our knowledge, this represents the highest power at similar to 2.7 mu m spectral region from a room temperature sesquioxide laser. (C) 2022 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

Automated summary

This study reports on the high-power and room temperature operation of an Er:Y2O3 ceramic laser based on home-developed high optical quality ceramic samples. By optimizing the pumping method and resonator design, a high slope efficiency was achieved.