A diode-pumped continuous-wave Yb:KGW laser with N_g-axis polarized output

Abstract

A diode-pumped continuous-wave Yb:KGW laser with radiation polarized along the Ng-axis is reported. The laser delivered more than 1 W of average power at 1029 nm with a slope efficiency of 28% and excitation at 980 nm. The ratio of the stimulated emission cross sections for the Nm- and Ng-polarizations was experimentally determined to be close to 5 at the laser wavelength.