Efficient operation of a diode-pumped Yb:NaY(WO(4))(2) laser

An efficient diode-pumped Yb:NaY(WO(4))(2) (Yb:NYW) disordered crystal laser has been experimentally demonstrated for the fist time. The Yb:NYW crystal has a peak absorption cross section of 1.09 x 10(-20) cm(2) at 972 nm and emission cross section of 1.24 x 10(-20) cm(2) at 1010 nm. Under an absorbed pump power of 11.7 W, the Yb:NYW laser generated an average output power as high as 4.1 W, with a slope efficiency of 45%. It was found that the laser always operated in a self-pulsing mode, and the laser spectrum showed random jumps with time. The mechanism of self-pulsing in the laser was also investigated.