Fabrication, spectral and laser performance of 5 at.% Yb3+ doped (La0.10Y0.90)2O3 transparent ceramic

A 5 at.% Yb3+ doped (La0.10Y0.90)2O3 transparent ceramic was fabricated with nano-powders and sintered in H2 atmosphere. Spectroscopic properties and laser performance of Yb:(La0.10Y0.90)2O3 ceramic were studied. The ceramic exhibits excellent spectroscopic properties, with broad absorption and emission bands, and its refractive index (n) is close to 2. The gain cross-section (σg) was calculated at different population inversion ratio (β) values. In addition, among Yb3+ doped YAG crystal, Y2O3 and (YLa)2O3 ceramic, (YLa)2O3 ceramic has the least pump intensity (Imin) of 1.25 KW cm−2. Furthermore, a diode-pumped C–W ceramic laser output has been demonstrated at 1075 nm with a slope-efficiency of 60.2%.

► The ceramics exhibits excellent spectroscopic properties.
► The ceramics have the least pump intensity (βmin) of 1.25 KW cm−2.
► The laser output with a slope efficiency of 60.2% was demonstrated.