Multiwatt continuous wave Nd:KGW laser with hot-band diode pumping.

We have demonstrated what we believe is the first continuous wave neodymium-doped potassium gadolinium tungstate crystal (Nd:KGW) laser with hot-band diode pumping at ∼910  nm. This pumping wavelength reduced the quantum defect by >46% as compared to conventional ∼810  nm pumping and resulted in significantly lower thermal lensing. The laser produced 2.