Preparation of Yb3+-doped silica-based glass for high power laser applications

We demonstrate a novel method for preparing bulk Yb³⁺-doped fused silica glass for high power laser by solution doping and high temperature melting technique. The silica glass with high Yb³⁺ concentration (5.34 × 10 ions/cm) is prepared. The absorption and fluorescence emission spectra of Yb³⁺ ions in the silica glass are recorded. Experiment results show that this glass prepared by this novel method has two strong absorption peaks at wavelength of 918 nm and 976 nm, which is suitable for diode laser pumping. Emission spectrum shows the wide emission bands extending from 900 to 1100 nm, and it has a broadband emission spectrum at wavelength of 1014 nm using model Mira 900F Ti-sapphire system as pump source. There is no thermal damage when the laser pump power is up to 100 W. Therefore, this glass is of interest as a new potential laser material serving as the core of photonic crystal fibers (PCF) for high power fiber laser applications.