Spectroscopic properties and laser performances of Yb:YCOB and potential of the Yb:LaCOB material

• Published in: Optical materials Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 181 - 188
• Main Authors: Aron, A., Aka, G., Viana, B., Kahn-Harari, A., Vivien, D., Druon, F., Balembois, F., Georges, P., Brun, A., Lenain, N., Jacquet, M.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-02-2001; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Doped-insulator lasers and other solid state lasers; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Laser materials; Lasers; Near infrared laser; Optical materials; Optics; Physics; Self-frequency doubling; YCOB; Ytterbium lasers; Self-frequency doubling; Ytterbium lasers; YCOB; Near infrared laser; Second harmonic generation; Calcium Borates; Inorganic compounds; Lanthanum Borates; Doped materials; Laser materials; Czochralski method; Experimental study; Yttrium Borates; Near infrared radiation; Ytterbium additions; Infrared laser; Solid state lasers; Emission spectra; Optical materials; Diode pumping; Optical frequency conversion; Quaternary compounds; Nonlinear optics; Crystal growth from melts
• ISSN: 0925-3467; 1873-1252
• DOI: 10.1016/S0925-3467(00)00075-6

In order to increase the compacity of the Yb-doped lasers, YCOB (Ca
4Y(BO
3)
3) materials with high ytterbium concentration have been characterized. Large 15 at.% and 35 at.% ytterbium-doped single crystals were grown by the Czochralski pulling method. Spectroscopic and laser properties have been investigated and laser tests performed under titanium sapphire and diode pumping at 976 nm. Low thresholds under Ti:Sa pumping (50 mW) and high slope efficiency under diode pumping (66%) have been obtained. The optical quality and the distribution of Yb
3+ dopant through the highly doped crystals is discussed. First results on the Yb:LaCOB crystals grown by the Czochralski process, containing 46Yb
3+ at.%, are also presented.