Comparative study on optical properties of Yb3+ doped LiNbO3: MgO and LiNbO3:ZnO laser crystals

Yb3+ doped LiNbO3:MgO (Mg, Yb:LN) and Yb3+ doped LiNbO3:ZnO (Zn, Yb:LN) laser crystals were grown from congruent melt by Czochralski (Cz) method and polarized under electric field. The absorption and emission spectra, and decay curves were measured and analyzed. Zn, Yb:LN crystal shows relatively larger cross sections both for absorption and emission spectra. The comparative study indicates that Zn, Yb:LN crystal would be one better crystal on potential laser performance than Mg, Yb:LN crystal.