Resonantly pumped, erbium-doped, GSGG, 2.8 micron, solid state laser with energy recycling and high slope efficiency

摘要

A laser system and method for producing a laser emission at a wavelength of substantially 2.8 microns and having a quantum efficiency of at least unity and a slope efficiency of about 36%. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the laser system comprises a laser cavity defined by first and second reflective elements with one of the reflective elements operating as an output coupler; a crystal disposed in the laser cavity and having a GSGG host material doped with a preselected percent concentration of erbium, the GSGG host material and preselected percent concentration of erbium being selected so as to provide a quantum efficiency of at least unity by the 4I13/2+4I13/2->4I9/2+4I15/2 upconversion process and a slope efficiency of about 36% when the crystal is resonantly pumped; and a resonant pump laser for directly pumping the 4I11/2 upper laser state of the erbium with a pump beam to cause the crystal to produce a laser emission corresponding to the 4I11/2->4I13/2 laser transition having a wavelength of substantially 2.8 microns.