Optical properties and high-efficiency lasing of Nd:YAG and Ho:YAG ceramics

We report on optical properties and high-efficiency lasing of YAG ceramics synthesized at IREE (Fryazino) and IEP (Ekaterinburg). The best slope efficiency is to be 36% for 1%Nd:YAG ceramics and 40% for 1%Ho:YAG ceramics, in the latter case the emission was centered at 2090 nm. Internal losses in domestic ceramics prove to be a few percents per centimeter.