Spectroscopic and lasing properties of disordered Yb3+-doped crystals

The luminescence properties and luminescence decay kinetics of disordered Yb3+-doped crystals of various oxides are investigated and the possibility of their use as active laser media in the near-IR region (in the vicinity of 1 A mu m) under laser diode pumping is established. Three groups of disordered oxide crystals were analyzed: calcium niobium gallium garnet, yttrium-stabilized zirconia, and double tungstates andmolybdates with scheelite structure (sodium gadolinium tungstate, sodium gadolinium molybdate, and sodium lanthanum molybdate). These compounds are characterized by large integrated cross sections of energy-level transitions of rare earth ions. The effect of degree of disorder on the spectroscopic and lasing properties of disordered oxide crystals is revealed. The results of the study show the possibility of lasing in all crystals studied and application potential of Yb3+-doped disordered crystals for developing new laser media.