Passively Q switched Yb:YAG ceramic laser with Cr4+:YAG as saturable absorber

Highly efficient passively Q-switched Yb:YAG ceramic laser with Cr4+:YAG crystal as saturable absorber is achieved. Maximum average output power of 0.96 W is obtained when the absorbed pump power of 3.8 W is used; corresponding optical-to-optical efficiency is about 25%. The slope efficiency is 30%.