Acousto-Optically Q-Switched Operation of Yb:CNGG Disordered Crystal Laser

We report the repetitively Q-switched laser operation of the Yb-doped calcium niobium gallium garnet disordered garnet crystal, achieved with an acousto-optic modulator in a compact plano-concave resonator that is end-pumped by a 935-nm diode laser. An average output power of 1.96 W is produced at pulse repetition rate of 50 kHz at emission wavelengths around 1035 nm, with a slope efficiency of 16%. The highest pulse energy of 269 \muJ is generated at pulse repetition rate of 1 kHz, with pulse width 12.1 ns and peak power 20.53 kW.