Ion implanted quasi-three-level Yb:YAG waveguide lasers

Abstract

Yb:YAG has manv advantages compared to the widely used Nd:YAG system. These include closer pump and laser wavelengths, leading to a more efficient transfer of energy from the pump to laser photons and less thermal loading of the gain medium. Excited state absorption, upconversion, and concentration quenching are also reduced because of the fact that there is only one excited 4f manifold. Efficient, room-temperature operation of a bulk Yb:YAG laser at 1.03 µm has recently been reported showing that the broad absorption bands are well suited to diode pumping