Ti:sapphire-laser pumped 20at%Yb:YAG thin chip with high-efficiency cw laser output of 1.053 μm

We have developed an efficient room-temperature 20at%Yb:YAG thin chip (6 X 6 X 0.5 mm) laser operating at 1.053 micrometers pumped by Ti:Sapphire laser operating at 940 nm. 356 mW of CW output power was obtained for an absorbed pump power of 784 mW. The slope efficiency was 69%, and extrapolated threshold power is 273 mW.