Rare-earth-doped sesquioxides

The sesquioxides Sc2O3, Y2O3, and Lu2O3 are suitable hosts for rare earth ions. Due to their high thermal conductivity they are useful for high power solid-state lasers and may be an alternative for the well-known YAG crystals. We have grown for the first time crystals in crucibles without solvents, which is a precondition for commercialization of these materials. Many lasers have been realized and show interesting properties. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.