Tunability and efficient CW laser operation in KLa(XO4)2:Nd3+, (X=W or Mo), disordered laser crystals

Disordered laser crystals are well known in last years for advantages to produce short pulse laser in particular Yb doped systems [1] and recently in Nd doped systems [2-3]. In this work we present the results in four different laser cavities: hemispherical, 3-fold mirrors, and 4-fold mirrors pumped with Ti-Sapphire (up to 4 W) and diode laser (up to 20 W), for two isomorphic disordered laser crystals, KLa(WO₄)₂:Nd³⁺ (KLW) and KLa(MoO₄)₂:Nd³⁺ (KLM). KLW crystal was grown in air by top-seeded solution growth technique and KLM was grown by Czochralski technique. Details about crystal growth, structure, and optical spectroscopy will be summarized in presentation. In previous work [4], we study the 1 μm laser emission of the F₃/₂ → ⁴I_11/2 transition and we observed some fluctuations in laser wavelengths but very smooth. However in this case we study in particular the potential effect of W or Mo ions in crystals with higher disorder than NaLa(WO₄)₂ respect to the laser tunability and output power in several laser configurations. In particular, we could summarize that KLW crystals offer a higher tunable range respect to KLM and KLM crystals present a higher output power than KLW crystals, in both cases laser threshold are very low around a few mW between 3 to 5 mW depending on the laser crystal.