Raw material synthesis and single crystal growth of Yb:KGW laser crystal

The key factor for crystal growth of Yb:KGW laser crystal is the selection of the flux and the design of the proper processes. Comparing the phase diagram and temperature field between K₂WO₄ and K₂W₂O₇, Yb: KGW crystal was grown by the flux method using K₂W₂O₇ as a suitable flux. By analyzing the X-ray diffraction spectra of Yb:KGW crystal powder sample and KGW powder sample, we found the same distribution of the diffraction maximum and the relative intensity, so it is concluded that the β- Yb:KGW crystal is of low-temperature phase, monoclinic system and C2/c space group. On the basis of TG-DTA, the results show that Yb:KGW has two obvious absorption peaks at 1086°C and 1021°C contrasting with the pure KGW crystal (melting point at 1031°C, phase transition temperature from tetragonal system to monoclinic system is 1088°C).The Yb:KGW crystal's melting point is about 1086°C and the phase transition peak from tetragonal system to monoclinic is at 1021°C.