Ytterbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet or Yb:YAG is a laser media used in DPSS laser of very good overall performance. It is more suitable for diode-pumping than the traditional Nd-doped systems. It can be pumped at 0.94μm laser output. Compared with the commonly used Nd:YAG crystal, Yb:YAG crystal has a much larger absorption bandwidth to reduce thermal management requirements for diode lasers, a longer upper-state lifetime, three to four times lower thermal loading per unit pump power. Yb:YAG crystal is expected to replace Nd:YAG crystal for high power diode-pumped lasers and other potential applications.