Resonantly pumped eye-safe Er3+:YAG SPS-HIP ceramic laser

We report for the first time laser action in resonantly-pumped transparent polycrystalline Er3+:YAG ceramic developed through a 2-step approach combining spark plasma sintering and HIP post treatment. Microstructural and spectroscopic properties, as well as the laser performance of large scale 0.5at.% Er: YAG transparent polycrystalline ceramic are discussed. A maximum slope efficiency of similar to 31% and optical-optical efficiency of 20% was measured. (c) 2018 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement