Diode array-pumped Er, Yb: Phosphate glass laser

Abstract
A diode-array side-pumped Er, Yb: phosphate glass laser has been constructed. Pumped with two 970 nm, InGaAs strained-layer diode arrays, a long pulse slope efficiency of 14% was obtained, with thresholds of 60 mJ input, a maximum output pulse energy of 20 mJ, and with output wavelengths at 1545±12 nm. When Q-switched, the laser generated 0.3 mJ, 50 ns FWHM pulses at an output wavelength of 1533±1 nm. Visible upconversion emission in the laser rod was observed.