 The ytterbium + 3 ion is used as a doping material in active laser media , specifically in solid state lasers and double clad fiber lasers . Ytterbium lasers are highly efficient , have long lifetimes and can generate short pulses ; ytterbium can also easily be incorporated into the material used to make the laser . Ytterbium lasers commonly radiate in the 1 @.@ 06 – 1 @.@ 12 µm band being optically pumped at wavelength 900 nm – 1 µm , dependently on the host and application . The small quantum defect makes ytterbium a prospective dopant for efficient lasers and power scaling . 
