Calcium fluoride crystals doped with YbF_3 and co-doped with LiF and NaF were grown using the vertical Bridgman method. Several of rare-earth ions (such as Eu, Sm, Ho, Tm, and Yb) can be stabilized in the divalent state in the CaF_2. The change of valence was attained by various methods. The optical absorption spectra reveal the characteristic absorption bands of the Yb^{3+} and Yb^{2+} ions. This means that the developed crystal growth process achieves a good Yb^{3+} to Yb^{2+} conversion in the as-grown crystals. The influence of other impurities, such as Na^+ or Li^+, on the absorption and emission spectrum of YbF_3-doped CaF_2 was studied. The Li^+ and Na^+ ions drastically decrease the absorption coefficient of the Yb^{2+} ions in the UV band and the emission intensity by excitation in 230 nm.
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