Laser properties of Er

3+

Yb

3+

co-doped erbium phosphate glass pumped by 974nm

2W laser diode is reported in this paper.Continuous laser at 1.53μm was obtained at room temperature in this erbium glass.The effect of Er

2

O

3

concentration and sample thickness on laser properties was investigated.0.13wt%

0.5wt% and 1.0wt% mean Er

2

O

3

concentrations and 1mm

2mm and 3mm sample thickness were used.It is found the laser threshold and slope efficiency is strongly depend on sample thickness and Er

3+

ion concentrations.At the same Er

3+

ion concentration

the thicker the sample

the larger the laser threshold.Slope efficiency increases with the Er

3+

ion concentration at the same sample thickness.At present the best laser properties are realized in glass with 0.5wt%Er

2

O

3

concentration and 2mm thickness.In this glass 10.2% slope efficiency

118mW laser threshold and 43mW maximum laser output were obtained.The laser spectral range is from 1527 to 1533nm.The center laser wavelength is 1530nm.