Observation of self-Q-switching in bulk Yb: GdYSiO laser

We report the first self-Q-switched Yb-doped GdYSiO₅ (Yb:GYSO) laser operating at 1080 nm. Stable Q-switched pulses with a repetition rate of 18.1 kHz and pulse duration of 9.45 μs are obtained. A maximum average output power of 452.6 mW is achieved with a 1% transmission output coupler. With a 3% transmission output coupler, the shortest pulse width of 6.6 μs is obtained. It demonstrates that Yb:GYSO crystal can be simultaneously employed as a saturable absorber and a gain medium to generate microsecond Q-switched pulses in the near infrared region.