A passively Q-switched diode pumped Yb:YAG microchip laser with Cr^(4+):YAG saturable absorber mirror is reported. The TEM00 laser pulses are obtained with 1.7-μJ pulse energy, 15-ns pulse width, 0.11-kW peak power, and a repetition rate of 2.2 kHz at 1049 nm. The doped concentration and dimension o