Co/sup 2+/:Y/sub 3/Sc/sub 2/Ga/sub 3/O/sub 12/ (YSGG) passive Q-switch for infrared erbium lasers

Co:YSGG possesses a very broad absorption band from 0.9 to 1.8 /spl mu/m which is characteristic of transition-metal-ion-doped materials. We have investigated Co/sup 2+/ in YSGG as a possible saturable absorber Q-switch for 1.5 /spl mu/m Er:glass lasers.