Ytterbium pieces are primarily used in specialized metallurgical applications where small alloying additions enhance material properties. They serve as a dopant in stainless steel and other alloys to improve grain refinement and resistance to high-temperature oxidation. In research settings, ytterbium is employed in the development of solid-state lasers, particularly when combined with other rare earth elements in host crystals like Yb:YAG, enabling efficient and high-power laser systems used in manufacturing and medical devices. It also plays a role in nuclear physics experiments due to its high neutron absorption cross-section in certain isotopes. Additionally, ytterbium is used in portable X-ray machines as a radiation source when converted to its isotope Yb-169, which emits gamma rays suitable for non-destructive testing in field conditions. Its use in quantum memory and optical clocks is being explored due to its favorable electronic transition properties.