Spectroscopy and Kerr-lens mode-locked operation of Yb:GdScO₃ crystal

A Kerr-lens mode-locked laser based on a Yb³⁺-doped disordered gadolinium scandate (Yb:GdScO₃) crystal is reported for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. The crystal with the perovskite structure was grown using the Czochralski method, and its room temperature (RT) and low temperature (LT) spectra were also investigated. Due to the crystal's multisite structure (Gd³⁺/Sc³⁺ site), Yb:GdScO₃ offers broad and intense polarized emission spectra in the near-infrared range (975-1075 nm). The stimulated emission cross section σSE is 0.46 × 10^-20 cm² at 1000 nm with an emission band width of 75.7 nm for E // b polarization. The continuous wave (CW) laser was operated pumped by a 976 nm fiber-coupled LD laser, resulting in a maximum output power of 8.74 W with a slope efficiency of 76.1% was obtained. Additionally, a pulses as short as 74 fs are generated at ∼1061.7 nm via Kerr-lens mode-locking. The average output power amounts to 32 mW at a pulse repetition rate of 101.4 MHz. All results indicate Yb:GdScO₃ a promising candidate for 1 µm ultrashort laser.