Er3+:YV04 and Er3+,Yb3+:YVO4 crystals as laser materials around 1.6µm

Laser oscillation around 1.6µm was realised at room temperature for Er:YVO4 and Er,Yb:YVO4 in continuous-wave mode under pumping with a Ti:sapphire laser as well as with a laser diode operating around 975nm. Under pumping with a Ti:sapphire laser, a maximal output power of about 140mW was achieved. The slope efficiency was about 8% vs. incident power. Under pumping with a laser diode, a maximal output power was about 25mW and the slope efficiencies were of the order of 1.4% vs. incident power.