Gain- and Q-switched operation of Er:Y2O3 ceramic laser at 1640 nm

Abstract

We report on gain-and Q-switched operation of Er:Y2O3 ceramic laser at 1640 nm using in-house fabricated lowscattering-loss, 0.25-at.% Er 3+ -doped ceramic sample. Stable gain-switched operation in pulse repetition frequencies (PRFs) of 5-50 kHz has been demonstrated using an acousto-optic modulator switched 1535 nm fiber pump source, resulting in a peak power of 16 times higher than that for CW operation. Q-switched operation in 0.5-10 kHz repetition rate has been demonstrated with AO switcher, generating stable pulses of 94 ns duration and 0.5 mJ energy at 0.5 kHz for 5.7 W of absorbed pump power, corresponding to a peak power of 5.2 kW.