Thermal Lensing and Multiwatt Microchip Laser Operation of Yb:YCOB Crystals

Thermal lensing is studied in monoclinic Yb:Ca
₄
YO(BO
₃
)
₃
(Yb: YCOB) oxoborate crystals cut along the optical indicatrix axes. For all orientations, the thermal lens is positive. In the Z-cut crystal, the sensitivity factors of the thermal lens are M
_Z-X
= 2.4 and M
_Z-Y
= 2.8 m
^-1
/W (for E∥X), and the astigmatism degree is as low as S/M = 14%. The positive thermal lens in Yb:YCOB is related to the large thermal expansion and strong photoelastic effect. Microchip lasers are realized with 3-mm-long X, Y, and Z-cut 15 at.% Yb:YCOB crystals. With a Z-cut crystal, maximum output power of 8.35 W is achieved at ~1040 nm with slope efficiency of 70%. Using various crystal cuts and output coupler transmissions, multiwatt emission in the spectral range of 1033-1091 nm is demonstrated.