Single- and dual-wavelength-switchable quasi-three-level Nd:Lu3Al5O12 ceramic laser

We report, for the first time to our knowledge, a continuous-wave (CW) wavelength-switchable quasi-three-level laser based on a Nd:Lu 3 Al 5 O 12 (Nd:LuAG) ceramic, operating on the 4 F 3/2 → 4 I 9/2 transition. When pumped by an 808 nm laser diode at an absorbed power of 16.4 W, the laser delivered a maximum CW output power of 3.4 W at 946 nm, with a slope efficiency of 25.4 % and an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 20.7 %. Furthermore, by rotating the birefringent filter (BF), lasing at the shorter wavelength of 941 nm was achieved, yielding a maximum output power of 2.5 W and a slope efficiency of 19.9 %. Additionally, dual-wavelength operation at 941 nm and 946 nm was also demonstrated, with a total output power of 2.3 W and an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 14.0 %.