First investigations on an Er3+:YAG SSHCL

First results on a diode-pumped Er(3+):YAG solid-state heat-capacity laser (SSHCL) are reported. The laser achieves an output power of >70 W and could be operated for >2 s, currently limited by the available pump power with respect to the temperature dependent threshold. The experimental results are in good agreement with the spectroscopically expected performance, predicting high-power kW-class operability of an Er(3+):YAG SSHCL. The presented work is believed to be the first Er(3+):YAG SSHCL investigated.