Co(2+):YSGG saturable absorber Q switch for infrared erbium lasers

Passive Q switching of Er:glass (1.53 microm) with a new, robust, solid-state saturable absorber, Co(2+):Y(3)Sc(2)Ga(3)O(12), has been demonstrated. Q-switched pulses of 20 ns and 4 mJ of energy were obtained. An absorption cross section of 5 x 10(-20) cm(2) was measured. Preliminary results for a Co(2+):Y(3)Al(5)O(12) saturable absorber Q switch are also discussed.