Guangzhu Chen

Optical spectroscopy of Nd3+ in LiLuF4 single crystals

The polarized absorption spectra, polarized fluorescence spectra and fluorescence decay curve of Nd3+ : LiLuF4 crystals are measured at room temperature. The peak absorption cross-sections are 6.944×10−20 cm2 and 1.664 × 10−20 cm2 at around 795 nm with full-width at half-maximum of 3.4 nm and 3.2 nm for π-polarization and σ-polarization, respectively. Based on Judd–Ofelt theory, the spectral parameters of Nd3+ in LiLuF4 crystals are investigated. The emission probabilities, branching ratio and radiative lifetime for the transitions from 4F3/2 are calculated. The radiative lifetime, fluorescence lifetime and quantum efficiency are 536 µs, 489 µs and 91%, respectively. Its spectroscopic parameters are also compared with those of some other important Nd3+-doped laser crystals.

Spectroscopic properties of Tm, Ho： LiLuF4

LiLuF4 single crystals co-doped with thulium (5%) and holmium (0.5%), having large size, intact shape, and high optical quality, are successfully grown by the Czochralski technique. Absorption and fluorescence spectra of the crystal are measured. The absorption spectrum shows that the main absorption band locates at near 686 and 792 nm and the fluorescence spectrum peaks at 2.05 µm. At room temperature, the as-grown Tm, Ho: LiLuF4 single crystals are end-pumped by a fiber-coupled laser diode system with pumping wavelength of 795 nm under CW operations. A power of 50 mw continuous laser output at 2.05 µm wavelength is achieved. Meanwhile an obvious green light is detected.

Intense 2.89 μm emission from Dy³⁺/Yb³⁺-codoped PbF₂ crystal by 970 nm laser diode pumping.

A novel Dy(3+)/Yb(3+) co-doped PbF2 mid-IR laser crystal was successfully grown using the vertical Bridgman method. Efficient emission at around 3 μm from the crystal was observed under excitation of a conventional 970 nm laser diode (LD). The energy transfer efficiency from Yb(3+) to Dy(3+) in Dy(3+)/Yb(3+):PbF2 crystal is as high as (97.7±0.3)%. It is also found that the Dy(3+)/Yb(3+):PbF2 crystal possesses long fluorescence lifetime (15.4±0.2) ms, high quantum efficiency (95.0±0.3)%, and large emission cross section (1.37±0.11)×10(-20) cm2 corresponding to the stimulated emission of Dy(3+):(6)H(13/2)→(6)H(15/2) transition. Additionally, the phonon energy of the crystal was analyzed by the Raman spectrum. These results indicate that Dy(3+)/Yb(3+):PbF2 crystal may become a promising material for 3 μm solid state lasers under a conventional 970 nm LD pump.