Laser performance of diode-pumped thulium-doped Y_3Al_5O_12, (Y, Lu)_3Al_5O_12, and Lu_3Al_5O_12 crystals

Abstract
Substitution of Lu for Y in the host garnet Y3Al5O12 results in small differences in the laser behavior of Tm3+. Important shifts in the laser frequency are achieved with little change from the well-known and desirable properties of Y3Al5O12. We discuss the comparative performance of the three materials, both as diode-pumped 3-W TEMoo lasers and as stable single-frequency oscillators. The near-room-temperature center lasing wavelengths of the 0%, 50%, and 100% Lu-substituted crystals are 2013.3, 2022.7, and 2020.3 nm, respectively.