LAUSR

Abstract We report on diode-pumped Nd:LuAG crystal lasers on 4 F 3/2  →  4 I 11/2 transition around 1.1 μm in continuous-wave and passive Q-switching regimes. For continuous-wave laser operation, a dual-wavelength laser at 1117 and 1122 nm is achieved with maximum output power of 5.82 W and slope efficiency of about 42.8%, which is believed to be the highest output power of Nd:LuAG lasers at 1.1 μm. Using an etalon to tune the lasing wavelength, a single-wavelength laser at 1114 nm is also realized, for the first time to our knowledge, with maximum output power of 4.11 W. Further wavelength tuning from 1113.9 to 1122.6 nm is also obtainable. Passively Q-switched laser operation at 1122 nm is finally performed with a maximum average output power of 0.73 W, the narrowest pulse width of 21.2 ns and a maximum pulse repetition rate of 14.12 kHz, which leads to a maximum pulse peak power of 2.43 kW and a maximum pulse energy of about 51.7 μJ.