Yb3+:(LuxY1-x)2O3 mixed sesquioxide ceramics for laser applications. Part II: Laser performances

We studied the laser performances of a new family of Yb3+-doped mixed sesquioxide ceramics, (LuxY1-x)2O3 with x = 0.113 and 0.232, fabricated by vacuum sintering of nano-sized particles synthesized by CO2 laser co-evaporation of solid targets with different Y/Lu balance. Their microstructural and spectroscopic properties were reported in details in a companion paper. We report the results of the laser emission performances (slope efficiency, output power and tuning range) under semiconductor laser pumping. A comparison of the performance with a 5.6 at% Yb:Y2O3 ceramics fabricated with the same method is reported. A maximum slope efficiency of 68.1% was obtained in quasi-CW emission regime from the sample with x = 0.113, with a wavelength tunability range from 994 to 1089 nm full width (i.e. 95 nm). Moreover, from the sample with Yb:Y2O3 composition we obtained a maximum slope efficiency of 74% (optical conversion efficiency 68.3%), among the highest ever reported for ceramic Yb:Y2O3. This is the first extensive characterization of the laser performances of the Yb:(Y,Lu)2O3 composition in ceramic hosts.