Abstract

Yb³⁺-based lasers have received substantial attention over the past several years. Fan and coworkers¹ have demonstrated efficient laser action in Yb:YAG, while DeLoach et al.² have developed lasers based on Yb-doped fluoroapatite, as well as several of its crystalline derivatives. In addition, Hanna and coworkers³ have investigated Yb-doped fiber lasers. Yb-based materials, which typically lase around 1.04 μm, are aided by the simple electronic structure of Yb³⁺ in that it has only two accessible electronic states, thus eliminating the detrimental impact of upconversion or excited state-absorption.

© 1995 Optical Society of America