Phase diagram, growth and spectral characteristic of Yb3+:KY(WO4)2 crystal

The phase diagram of Yb3+: KY(WO4)2-K2WO4/KF has been determined by means of XRD and DSC. Yb3+:KY(WO4)2-K2WO4/KF system has very low volatility, and has high solubility and a large growing temperature region of about 200 K for Yb3+: KY(WO4)2 crystal. Yb3+: KY(WO4)2 crystal with the dimension up to 37×22×10 mm3 has been grown from a flux of 40 mol%K2WO4/KF by TSSG method. The hardness of Yb3+:KY(WO4)2 is 286.3 VDH. Yb3+: KY(WO4)2 crystal has large absorption and emission cross-sections which are 1.67×10−20 cm2 at 981 nm and 1.82×10−20cm2 at 1024 nm respectively for E//X. The fluorescence lifetime is 1.23 ms at room temperature. The laser performance parameters of Yb3+: KY(WO4)2 crystal were evaluated.