Continuous-wave and passively Q-switched laser performance of Nd:(La_xGd_1-x)₃Ga₅O₁₂ crystal at 1062 nm

The performance of diode-pumped continuous-wave (CW) and passively Q-switched (PQS) Nd:(LaxGd1_-x)₃Ga₅O₁₂ lasers at 1062 nm were demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge. The highest CW output power of 9.9 W was obtained, corresponding to an optical-to-optical efficiency of 42.9%. For the passive Q-switching operation, when the output coupler of T_oc = 27% was adopted, the maximum output power of 3.97 W was obtained by a Cr⁴⁺:YAG saturable absorber with the initial transmission of T₀ = 89.9%.While at T₀ = 81.4% and T_oc = 27%, the output power of 2.83 W, with pulse width of 7.4 ns and the repetition rate of 13.87 kHz, was obtained, corresponding to the maximum peak power of 27.6 kW and single pulse energy of 0.2 mJ, respectively.