Laser Materials Er:YAG

Highly doped (50%) Erbium YAG is a well-known laser source for producing 2940nm emission, commonly used in medical [1] (e.g. cosmetic skin resurfacing), and dental [2] (e.g. oral surgery) applications due to the strong water and hydroxapatite absorption at this wavelength. Low doped (< 1%) Erbium YAG hase been studied as an efficient means to generate high power and high energy 1.6 micron 'eye-safe' laser emission thru 2 level resonant pumping schemes. In these systems, fiber or diode lasers pump the ~1.5 micron 4I15/2− > 4I13/2 4I15/2 4I13/2 absorption band, where non-raditive coupling between stark levels allows 1.6 micron laser emission with quantum efficiencies in excess of 90% [3].