Alban Ferrier

Midinfrared luminescence properties and laser potentials of Pr3+ doped KPb2Cl5 and CsCdBr3

The paper presents the spectroscopic and the fluorescence properties of the Pr3+ doped low-energy phonon and nonhygroscopic chloride and bromide single crystals KPb2Cl5 and CsCdBr3. Room temperature absorption spectra have been registered and analyzed, by using standard as well as modified versions of the Judd–Ofelt formalism, to derive the values for the radiative lifetimes and the branching ratios of the various emission transitions in both compounds. Low temperature absorption and emission spectra have been registered and exploited to derive the detailed positions of the Pr3+ energy levels in KPb2Cl5. These experimental values have been confronted to and completed by calculated ones obtained by using a standard crystal-field procedure. These data, combined with results of fluorescence decays and emission spectra measurements, then have been used to determine the emission and gain cross sections of the main midinfrared (mid-IR) emission transitions of interest in these materials. Finally, the different ...

Energy level structure and excited-state absorption properties of Er 3+ -doped KPb 2 Cl 5

We present a detailed study of the spectroscopy and fluorescence properties of the Er:KPb2Cl5 laser crystal, together with complementary data to complete the existing literature in the visible and near UV spectral domain. It deals with fluorescence decays, with anti-Stokes emission spectra and of calibration of excited-state absorption and emission spectra in the cross-section unit in the region of optical excitation around 800u2009nm. It brings new data for analyzing laser operation under one- and two-photon excitation conditions and for characterizing the involved energy transfer processes.

Improved Crystal Growth and Revisited Spectroscopic Parameters of the 4.5 µm Er 3+ :KPb 2 Cl 5 Laser Material

Er3+-doped single crystalline laser rods were successfully grown by the Bridgman-Stockbarger method using silica ampoules sealed under HCl gas. Modified material synthesis and ampoule preparation processes have been developped that eventually led to crack- and bubble-free eight centimeters-long laser crystals.