Dysprosium-doped PbGa2S4 laser excited by diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser

We realized a compact mid-IR room temperature operating Dy(3+):PbGa(2)S(4) laser, excited by a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser at a wavelength of 1318 nm. The pumping laser was operating in pulsed mode with a pulse length of 4 ms and repetition rate of 20 Hz. Maximum pumping energy at a wavelength of 1318 nm was 15 mJ. Energy up to 90 μJ and mean output power of 1.8 mW was obtained at a wavelength of 4290 nm with a slope efficiency with respect to absorbed pumping energy better than 3%.