Diode-pumped 1.35-micron Nd:KGd(WO/sub 4/)/sub 2/ laser passively Q-switched with cobalt-doped glass ceramics

The Nd/sup 3+/:KGd(WO/sub 4/)/sub 2/ (Nd:KGW) crystal lasing at 1.35 /spl mu/m is very attractive active medium for diode-pumped solid state lasers due to the possibility of Raman self-frequency conversion to the 1.5-/spl mu/m eye-safe region. Efficient Raman conversion requires passive Q-switching. In this respect search for new passive saturable absorbers for the 1.35-/spl mu/m Nd/sup 3+/:KGW laser is of top interest. In this paper we report our results on passive Q-switching of a diode-pumped Nd:KGW laser at 1.35 /spl mu/m with cobalt-doped magnesium aluminum silicate glass ceramics (Co:MAS) saturable absorber.