Diode-pumped efficient continuous-wave Yb:Y3Ga5O 12 laser at 1035nm

An efficient diode-pumped Yb:Y3Ga5O12 (Yb:YGG) laser was demonstrated by using a high-quality Yb:YGG crystal grown by the optical floating zone method. Continuous-wave laser power up to 2.65 W had been obtained under an incident pump power of 6.71 W at 970 nm, corresponding to an optical-to-optical efficiency of 39.5% and maximum slope efficiency of 84.5%. A modeling calculation of the Yb:YGG laser was also performed, and the theoretical results were consistent with the experimental results. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America