Spectroscopic and laser characteristics of ceramics based on Yb3+-doped Lu2O3 – Y2O3 solid solution

We report on quasi-cw lasing at a wavelength of 1031 nm with a maximum power of 8 W and a slope efficiency of 32.3% achieved in a thin-disk ceramic element based on ytterbium-doped solid solution of yttrium and lutetium sesquioxides. A sample of Yb : (Lu, Y)₂O₃ ceramics was fabricated by solid-state sintering of nanosized particles of a predetermined composition synthesised by laser ablation. The study of the spectral and luminescent characteristics of the obtained ceramics shows that partial substitution of Y³⁺ cations by Lu³⁺ cations broadens the absorption, luminescence, and laser spectra and shifts their peaks with respect to those of Yb : Y₂O₃ ceramics.