Yb:KGW and Yb:KYW Crystals

Yb3+ doped KY(WO4)2 (KYW) and KGd(WO4)2 (KGW)single crystals are the new laser crystals for diode and laser pumped solid-state laser applications.

Yb:KGW and Yb:KYW crystals are used as lasing materials to generate ultrashort high power pulses. Yb:KGW can be used as ultrashort pulses amplifiers and these crystals are one of the best materials for high power thin disk lasers.



The broad spectral emission band of Yb:KYW allows the tuning of the laser radiation over 1020-1060 nm range and the generation of femtosecond pulses shorter than 70 fs; Enhanced storage capacity, wide absorption spectrum at 980 nm and high absorption of pump radiation in a small crystal region allow an efficient use of diode laser pump;

As compared to YAG or glasses used as hosts for Yb3+, KYW and KGdW have the advantage of a larger absorption cross section than YAG, which decreases the minimum pump intensity necessary to achieve transparency in the quasi-two-level system of ytterbium.