Room-temperature 1.643-µm Er(3+):Y(3)Sc(2)Ga(3)O(12) (Er:YSGG) laser

Laser operation at 1.643 µm ((4)I(13/2)-(4)I(15/2)) in Er(3+):Y(3)Sc(2)Ga(3)O(12) (Er:YSGG) at 300 K is reported. An Er:glass laser (1.532 µm) was used in an end-pumping arrangement to obtain laser output from a 1-cm-long 0.7% Er(3% Yb, 1% Cr):YSGG crystal in an external cavity. The Er:YSGG laser exhibited an 18-mJ threshold and a 10% slope efficiency.