Lasers and Optics Springer-Verlag 1999 Invited paper Ultrafast ytterbium-doped bulk lasers and laser amplifiers

Abstract.We review recent achievements with ultrafast bulk lasers and amplifiers based on Yb:YAG and Yb:glass. Spe-cial attention is paid to those aspects of the quasi-three-level nature of these gain media that are important for short-pulse generation. The potential of Yb-doped media for efficient short-pulse generation and amplification is compared to their Nd-doped counterparts. PACS: 42.60; 42.55 In recent years, the Yb3C ion has been recognized as an inter-esting dopant for solid-state laser materials [1, 2]. The Yb3C ion has a very simple energy level scheme, which consists of only two manifolds participating in the lasing process. The laser operation wavelength is in the 1 mm region, similar to the Nd3C ion. Yb-doped laser materials can be pumped by strained laye