High-Power 1178 nm Pulsed Raman Laser Based on KYW Crystal

A high-power potassium yttrium tungstate (KYW) Raman laser based on an extra-cavity configuration is demonstrated at the first-Stokes wavelength of 1178 nm for the first time. The KYW crystal is pumped by a 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with a repetition frequency of 9 kHz. With an incident pump power of 29 W, the maximum Stokes output power of 4.7 W is obtained with a pulse width of 55.5 ns, and the corresponding slope efficiency is 40.5%. This work provides a good candidate for the generation of 589 nm sodium yellow laser by frequency doubling technology.