Polarized laser oscillation of isotropic disordered Yb:Ca3(NbGa)(2-x)Ga3O12 crystal.

Linearly polarized laser oscillation is observed with the isotropic disordered Yb:Ca3(NbGa)(2-x)Ga3O12 crystal, resulting from stress-induced birefringence. At high pump levels, two orthogonal polarization states exist simultaneously. A continuous-wave output power of 2.0 W is obtained with an optical-to-optical efficiency of 32%, the slope efficiency amounts to 40%. In the passively Q-switched regime, the average output power reaches 1.35 W at a pulse repetition frequency of 16.7 kHz, with a slope efficiency of 37%; the laser pulse energy, duration, and peak power amount to 81 microJ, 25 ns, and 3.24 kW, respectively.