Structurally Disordered Er3+-Doped NaY(WO4)2 as a Gain Medium for Resonantly-Pumped Eye-Safe Laser at ~1.6 um

We report crystal growth, spectroscopy and eye-safe laser operation of disordered Er:NaY(WO4)2 crystal. We show that crystalline disorder facilitates efficient direct resonant pumping around 1500 nm by the wideband InP laser diode sources.