Ytterbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Yb:YAG) crystal

opticallaser

It is more suitable for diode-pumping than the traditional Nd-doped systems. It can be pumped at 0.94 μm laser output. Compared with the commonly used Nd:YAG crystal, Yb:YAG crystal has a much larger absorption bandwidth to reduce thermal management requirements for diode lasers, a longer upper-state lifetime, three to four times lower thermal loading per unit pump power. Yb:YAG crystal is expected to replace Nd:YAG crystal for high power diode-pumped lasers and other potential applications. Advantages: • Very low fractional heating, less than 11% • Very high slope efficiency • Broad absorption bands, about 8nm@940nm • No excited-state absorption or up-conversion • Conveniently pumped by reliable InGaAs diodes at 940nm(or 970nm) • High thermal conductivity and large mechanical strength • High optical quality