High-power, broadly tunable, and low-quantum-defect KGd_1-xLu_x(WO₄)₂:Yb³⁺ channel waveguide lasers

In KGd_1-xLu_x(WO₄)₂:Yb³⁺ channel waveguides grown onto KY(WO4)2 substrates by liquid phase epitaxy and microstructured by Ar⁺ beam etching, we produced 418 mW of continuous-wave output power at 1023 nm with a slope efficiency of 71% and a threshold of 40 mW of launched pump power at 981 nm. The degree of output coupling was 70%. By grating tuning in an extended cavity and pumping at 930 nm, we demonstrated laser operation from 980 nm to 1045 nm. When pumping at 973 nm, lasing at 980 nm with a record-low quantum defect of 0.7% was achieved.