Spectroscopic properties and laser performances of Yb:LGSB nonlinear optical crystal

Abstract Czochralski growth along with linear optical characterizations and near-infrared laser performances of ytterbium doped lanthanum and gadolinium scandium borate crystals (La x Gd Y Sc Z Yb w (BO 3 ) 4 with x + y + z + w = 4) with acentric huntite-type structure are presented in this paper. Low-temperature spectroscopy analyses reveal two insertion sites for Yb 3+ ions: a main one in Sc sites and the other one in lanthanide site. While absorption cross-section spectrum reveals broad bands with a maximum value of 7.8 × 10 −21  cm 2  at 981.5 nm for the σ state of polarization, the emission cross-section spectrum presents low anisotropy between the two polarization states over 1060 nm. Best laser performance is obtained in continuous-wave operation mode with 0.94W at 1070 nm for a 12.9-at% doped crystal.