Abstract

Historical attempts to pump Yb by flashlamps, other lasers, light-emitting diodes, or by energy-transfer schemes, have proved to be impractical. Since the advent of strained-layer InGaAs laser diodes operating in the 0.9–1.1-μm range, however, it has been recognized that the absorption properties of the Yb ion are matched with the output characteristics of these diodes.

© 1992 Optical Society of America