Flux growth of Yb3+-doped RE2O3 (RE = Y,Lu) single crystals at half their melting point temperature

We discuss a new, cheap, simple, reliable and safe growth process of Yb3+-doped Y2O3 and Lu2O3 single crystals by a flux method, using an original, nontoxic solvent in a growth setup operative in air and at half the melting temperature of cubic RE2O3. Several mm(3)-sized Yb3+-doped Y2O3 and Lu2O3 single crystals were grown, the orientation, purity and Yb3+-concentration of which were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). A preliminary characterization of Yb3+-doped cubic RE2O3 (RE = Y,Lu) single crystals' basic spectroscopic and laser parameters is presented.