Laser operation of Yb/sup 3+/-doped Y/sub 2/O/sub 3/ and related sesquioxides

Summary form only given. We have grown Yb:Y/sub 2/O/sub 3/ crystals by a bottom seeded, modified Bridgman technique. The best boule grown at our institute had a diameter of 18 mm and a length of about 9 mm and consisted of several large monocrystalline regions. Samples from this boule have been investigated and the laser performance was tested by use of a Ti:sapphire laser as a pump source.