Laser demonstration with highly doped Yb:Gd2O3 and Yb:Y2O3 crystals grown by an original flux method.

We present, to the best of our knowledge, the first laser demonstration of an Yb-doped Gd(2)O(3) cubic crystal. This crystal was obtained by the flux method using an original borate-based solvent, which was particularly well suited to the growth of rare earth sesquioxide crystals at half the working temperature of classical growth techniques. This flux method is a very interesting alternative for the production of laser sesquioxide crystals, not only because it provides access to new matrices of the cubic polymorph, but also because it permits high Yb(3+)-doping levels for these crystals. The first laser results of two highly Yb(3+)-doped sesquioxides, namely Gd(2)O(3) and Y(2)O(3), grown by this flux method are presented here, including the Ti:sapphire and diode pumping configurations. Laser efficiencies and emission spectra for these two crystals were studied and compared.