Continuous wave diode pumped Yb:LLF and Yb:NYF lasers

Experimental and theoretical results of investigation of CW Yb:LiLuF4 (Yb:LLF) and Yb:Na4Y6F22 (Yb:NYF) lasers under longitudinal diode laser pump are reported. Slope efficiencies of 41%, 58% with 0.21, 0.53 W of output powers were obtained for the Yb:LLF and Yb:NYF lasers, correspondingly. The Yb:NYF laser demonstrated tunability in the region from 1005 to 1061 nm. The mathematical modelling of CW laser operation predicts under optimized laser parameters optical to optical efficiencies of about 55% and 51% for Yb:LLF and Yb:NYF lasers, respectively. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved