Characterization of diode-pumped laser operation of a novel Yb:GSO Crystal

We report what is believed to be the first demonstration of the laser action of Yb/sup 3+/-doped Gd/sub 2/SiO/sub 5/ (Yb:GSO)crystal pumped by a 940-nm laser diode at room temperature. The threshold of laser generation is only 0.85 kW/cm/sup 2/, which is smaller than the theoretic threshold of Yb:YAG (1.54 kW/cm/sup 2/). The laser wavelength is 1090 nm. With a 2.5% output coupler, the maximum output power is 415 mW under a pump power of 5W. By using the SESAM, the Q-switched modelocking and CW mode-locked operations are demonstrated.