Efficient laser operation at 1.06 μm in co-doped Lu3+, Nd3+:GdCa4O(BO3)3 single crystal

Abstract Efficient laser emission at 1.06 μm was obtained from a diode-laser quasi-continuous wave pumped Nd 0.04 Gd 0.86 Lu 0.10 Ca 4 O(BO 3 ) 3 (Nd:GdLuCOB) single crystal. An uncoated, 6.0-mm long, ZX -cut Nd:GdLuCOB medium yielded laser pulses with 1.76 W peak power for absorbed pump pulses of 5.49 W peak power, corresponding to an overall optical-to-optical efficiency η oa  = 0.32; the slope efficiency was η sa  = 0.44. Comparison is made with an uncoated XY -cut Nd:GdCOB medium (4.0-at.% Nd doping and 6.8-mm length) from which laser pulses with 1.74 W peak power (at optical efficiency η oa  = 0.25) and 0.31 slope efficiency were obtained. The improvements in laser emission of Nd:GdLuCOB at the fundamental wavelength are important for future self-frequency doubling in ZX principal plane of this crystal.