Highly efficient actively Q-switched Yb:LGGG laser generating 3.26 mJ of pulse energy.

An efficient acousto-optic Q-switched laser operation of Yb:(Lu x Gd 1-x ) 3 Ga 5 O 12 (x = 0.062) (Yb:LGGG) crystal is demonstrated, producing stable pulses with repetition rate ranging from 1 to 20 kHz. Under the absorbed pump power of 8.75 W, the maximum average output power of 3.26 W is obtained at the pulse repletion rate of 1 kHz, corresponding to the slope efficiency as high as 52%. The pulse width of 14.5 ns is achieved with the pulse energy and peak power of 3.26 mJ and 225 kW, respectively. It indicates great potential of Yb:LGGG crystal for generating pulsed lasers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]