Dependence of Yb:KYW minilaser performance on Yb concentration

Abstract

Summary form only given. The ytterbium containing active media are attractive for application in all solid-state diode pumped lasers emitting at /spl sim/1 /spl mu/m because of their favourable spectroscopic properties leading to small quantum gap and therefore low thermal loading. Here we present the results of experimental investigation of the laser properties of KY(WO/sub 4/)/sub 2/:Yb/sup 3+/ (or Yb:KYW) active media with Yb concentration varying in a wide range (1, 5, 10, and 20 at%), grown by the modified Czochralski technique from solution in K/sub 2/W/sub 2/O/sub 7/ melt.