Comparative study the effect of Yb concentrations on laser characteristics of Yb:YAG ceramics and crystals

Laser performance of Yb:YAG ceramics and singlecrystals doped with different Yb concentrations was investigated using two‐pass pumping miniature laser configuration. Highly efficient laser performance was obtained for both Yb:YAG ceramics and single‐crystals. For the low doping concentration, the laser performance of ceramics is lower than those of their singlecrystal counterpart. However, better laser performance was observed for heavy‐doped Yb:YAG ceramic than single‐crystal (CYb = 20 at.%). The maximum optical‐to‐optical efficiency decreases with Yb doping concentration for both Yb:YAG ceramics and crystals. However, the decrease of maximum opticalto‐optical efficiency is faster for Yb:YAG crystals than that for Yb:YAG ceramics with Yb doping concentration. The effects of Yb concentration and the transmission of the output couplers on the laser performance and output laser wavelength of Yb:YAG ceramics and crystals were addressed by taking account into the intracavity laser intensity and reabsorption. (© 2009 by Astro Ltd., Published exclusively by WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA)