Laser demonstration with highly doped Yb:Gd₂O₃ and Yb:Y₂O₃ crystals grown by an original flux method

Abstract

We present, to the best of our knowledge, the first laser demonstration of an Yb-doped ${\mathrm{Gd}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$ cubic crystal. This crystal was obtained by the flux method using an original borate-based solvent, which was particularly well suited to the growth of rare earth sesquioxide crystals at half the working temperature of classical growth techniques. This flux method is a very interesting alternative for the production of laser sesquioxide crystals, not only because it provides access to new matrices of the cubic polymorph, but also because it permits high ${\mathrm{Yb}}^{3+}$-doping levels for these crystals. The first laser results of two highly ${\mathrm{Yb}}^{3+}$-doped sesquioxides, namely ${\mathrm{Gd}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$ and ${\mathrm{Y}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$, grown by this flux method are presented here, including the Ti:sapphire and diode pumping configurations. Laser efficiencies and emission spectra for these two crystals were studied and compared.

© 2013 Optical Society of America

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