Ti:Sapphire-Laser Pumped 20 at.% Yb:YAG Thin Chip with Continuous-Wave Laser Output of 356 mW at 1.053 μm

We analyzed the spectroscopic performances of Yb:YAG and developed an efficient room-temperature 20 at.% Yb:YAG thin chip (6 × 6 × 0.5 mm) laser operating at 1.053 μm pumped by Ti-sapphire laser operating at 940 nm. Output power of 356 mW was obtained for an absorbed pump power of 784 mW. The slope efficiency was 69%, and the extrapolated threshold was 273 mW. The slope efficiency was as high as 72% with absorbed pump power exceeding 730 mW.