Ytterbium (Yb) Products

Ytterbium (Yb), atomic number 70, is a silvery-white rare earth metal belonging to the lanthanide series. With an atomic weight of 173.045 u, ytterbium has a relatively low melting point of 824°C (1515°F), boiling point around 1196°C (2185°F), and density of 6.90 g/cm3. Ytterbium occurs naturally in several minerals like fluorocarbonates and xenotime, often alongside other rare earths.

In electronics, ytterbium’s applications are concentrated primarily in fiber amplifiers and laser technology. Specifically, ytterbium-doped fiber amplifiers (YDFAs) are widely used in fiber optic communications as they can effectively amplify wavelengths around 1 micron, an important band for fiber optic transmission. These amplifiers are favored for their high efficiency and reliability.

Additionally, ytterbium is used to construct solid-state lasers, which have broad applications in industrial, medical, and military fields. For example, ytterbium lasers can deliver high-powered infrared output suitable for surgical procedures and metal cutting. Hence, ytterbium is also often used as a sputter target in manufacturing microelectronic devices and optical coatings.