The Laser Action of a Yb:CLNGG Crystal with an Efficiency Approaching Its Quantum Defect Imposed Limit

Continuous-wave laser operation is demonstrated at room temperature with a new disordered Yb:CLNGG crystal. A maximum output power of 5.05 W is generated with 7.8 W of pump power absorbed in the crystal, resulting in an optical-to-optical efficiency of 65%, whereas the slope efficiency is determined to be 92%, approaching the limit imposed by the quantum defect in the laser emission process.