Epitaxial YAG:Yb films for disk lasers

Yb doped Y/sub 3/Al/sub 5/O/sub 12/ (YAG) crystals are high performance materials for high power diode pumped disk lasers. The main advantages of ytterbium ions as laser gain media in comparison with traditional neodymium ions are high pump efficiency, low thermal load, wide pumping band, longer excited state lifetime, and smaller quantum defect. This work deals with the investigation of the optical properties of epitaxial YAG:Yb films and their suitability as gain media for thin disk lasers.