Ytterbium doped phosphate laser glasses

Physical, spectral and laser properties of a new Yb3+ doped phosphate laser glass, QX/Yb, has been developed. This glass exhibits a low thermal expansion coefficient and a negative temperature coefficient of refractive index, resulting in an acceptable athermal behavior and an excellent thermal loading capability. The peak absorption and emission cross sections of Yb3+ were measured to be 1.06x10(-20) cm(2) and 0.903x10(-20) cm(2), respectively. The concentration quenching and the influence of the OH- content on fluorescence lifetimes were examined. Excellent laser performance with a slope efficient of 49% and a maximum output power of 400 mW was demonstrated.