There is an important need for high power, compact laser sources. Recently over 100 Watts has been demonstrated from a glass fiber laser. Two advances that have made this possible are the availability of high power diode lasers used as pumps and double-claddingof the fibers. For several reasons significant improvements on these results are possible using single crystal fibers rather than glass fibers. Using the LHPG technique to grow single crystal fibers of YAG, we are proposing to develop diode-pumped, double-clad fiber lasers of Er:YAG for sensor applications.
