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A highly efficient diode-laser end-pumped polycrystalline 2% Nd:yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) ceramics laser that is comparable in efficiency with Nd:YAG single crystal laser has been developed. With 883 mW pumping, 465-mW-cw laser output at 1064 nm has been obtained corresponding to an optical-to-optical efficiency of 52.7%. The laser threshold is only 30 mW with R=97% output coupler.

A high-power continuous-wave polycrystalline 1% Nd:Y3Al5O12 (Nd:YAG) ceramic rod laser was demonstrated. With 290 W/808 nm laser diode pumping, cw laser output of 72 W was obtained at 1064 nm. The optical-to-optical conversion efficiency is 24.8%. Thermally induced birefringence properties of Nd:YAG ceramic was also investigated.

High power CW (continuous wave) polycrystalline Nd:Y 3 Al 5 O 12 (Nd:YAG) ceramic rod laser was demonstrated for the first time. The maximum output power of 31 W with a 18.8% slope efficiency was obtained at 1064 nm using 214.5 W/808 nm laser diode pumping.

A highly efficient laser diode end-pumped polycrystalline 1% Nd:Y3Al5O12 (Nd:YAG) ceramic laser has been developed. It is comparable to a Nd:YAG single crystal laser in terms of efficiency. With 883 mW pumping, CW laser output of 499 mW at 1064 nm has been obtained, which corresponds to an optical-to-optical efficiency of 56.5%. The threshold is only 22 mW for a R=97% output coupler. Passively Q-switched operation has also been demonstrated using a Cr4+:YAG single crystal as a saturable absorber.