Concentration quenching in Yb:YAG

The concentration quenching in Yb:YAG crystals with high Yb3+ doping level was demonstrated, and studied as well. The color center and lattice distortion which originated from Yb2+ are the main reasons for producing the concentration quenching in unannealed Yb:YAG crystals, and after annealing at 1600°C in oxygen atmosphere for 24 h, Yb2+ vanished. Trace impurity ions are also responsible for this phenomenon.