Laser crystal Ytterbium doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Yb:Y3Al5O12 or Yb:YAG) is one of the most promising laser-active materials and more suitable for diode-pumping than the traditional Nd-doped crystals. Ytterbium doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Yb:Y3Al5O12 or Yb:YAG) can be pumped at 0.94 µm and generates 1.03 µm laser output. Compared with the commonly used Nd:YAG crystal, Yb:YAG crystal has a larger absorption bandwidth in order to reduce thermal management requirements for diode lasers, a longer upper-state lifetime, three to four times lower thermal loading per unit pump power. Laser crystal Ytterbium doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Yb:Y3Al5O12 or Yb:YAG) is expected to replace Nd:YAG crystal for high power diode-pumped lasers and other potential applications.