Performance of the self-Q-switched Cr,Yb : YAG laser

We report on the spectral properties of Cr, Yb:YAG crystal co-doped with 0.025 at.% Cr and 10 at.% Yb are reported. Using a continuous wave Ti:sapphire laser as a pumping source, we have demonstrated the self-Q-switched Cr,Yb:YAG laser at room temperature. 1 c obtained an average output power as much as 75 mW at 1.03 mum with a pulse width (FWHM) as short as 0.4 mus. The laser experiment demonstrated that the Cr,Yb:YAG crystal exactly combines the Cr4+ saturable absorber and Yb3+ gain medium. The Cr, Yb: YAG crystal can be a most promising self-Q-switched laser crystal for compact and efficient solid-state lasers