Spectroscopy and efficient laser emission of Yb3+:LuAG single crystal grown by micro-PD

A LuAG shaped rod crystal, doped with Yb 3+, has been grown by ?-PD technique. The crystal diameter was about 3 mm and the length around 13 0 mm. A complete spectros copic investigation in the temperature range 10 - 300 K is reported and data has been utili zed to model the laser behavior. In the laser experiment the Yb:LuAG sample was placed in an X cavity and pumped longitudinally obtaining an effi cient CW laser emission. The Yb:LuAG laser yielded a maximum output power of 23 mW with a slope ef ficiency of 32% and a threshold around 35 m W, at lasing wavelength of 1030 nm. No signi fi cant depolarization effect s were observed, indicating a crystal growth with negligible stress. The output beam pro file was investigated, yielding M 2 ? 1.0 in both directions, further con fi rming the good optical quality of the sample.