Difference of Properties between Yb<sup>3+</sup>-Doped Silicate and Phosphate Laser Glasses

Abstract

The Yb3+-doped silicate and phosphate laser glasses were prepared by using of traditional melt quenching technology, and the physical and spectral properties were investigated. The results show that the stimulated emission cross section and the fluorescence lifetime are 0.67×10-20cm2 and 1200μs for the silicate glass, and 0.75×10-20cm2 and 1000μs for the phosphate glass respectively. And silicate glass’s mechanical and thermal properties were better than that of phosphate glass. But Yb3+-doped phosphate glass has lower nonlinear refraction index n2. Both Yb3+-doped silicate and phosphate glasses are possible to be used as laser medium.