Optimization of spectroscopic properties of ytterbium-doped laser glasses

Abstract

Four laser glasses with high emission cross sections are experimentally obtained. The laser performance parameters are determined from the spectroscopic parameters of these glasses and compared with those of developing laser glasses abroad. It is shown that Yb³⁺-doped telluorogermanate, Yb³⁺-doped niobosilicate glasses have the highest emission cross section and gain coefficient, the smallest minimum pumping intensity and saturation pumping intensity, and the lowest minimum fraction of excited ions. Yb³⁺-doped borate glass follows just behind them. These glasses have some spectroscopic advantages over laser glasses developed recently elsewhere. Yb³⁺-doped phosphate glass is comparable to phosphate laser glass which had high emission cross section and was developed recently by HOYA Corporation in Japan. The domestic glasses with optimum spectroscopic properties may be promising candidates for applications in high-average power and high-peak power solid state lasers, especially laser for the next generation laser nuclear fusion facility.