77-%-slope-efficiency, 800-mW-average-power, diode-pumped at 976-nm Yb/sup 3+/:Ca/sub 4/GdO(BO/sub 3/)/sub 3/ laser

Summary form only given. The recently-developed Yb/sup 3+/ doped Ga/sub 4/LnO(BO/sub 3/)/sub 3/ (Ln=Y, Gd) crystals (Yb: LnCOB) have been shown to be promising for efficient all-solid-state lasers. These crystals exhibit many advantages such as simple quasi-three-level laser structure and absence of parasitic levels for the Yb/sup 3+/ ions. We present the results obtained from an Yb:GdCOB laser operating in the cw regime at room temperature pumped by 976-nm laser-diodes. Subsequently we will describe the results obtained in the Q-switch regime.