J. Massons

Structure, crystal growth and physical anisotropy of KYb(WO4)2, a new laser matrix

The crystal structure of monoclinic KYb(WO4)2 (KYbW) crystals has been refined (in space group C2/c) at room temperature by using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. KYbW undoped crystals were grown by the TSSG (top-seeded-solution growth) slow-cooling method. The crystals show {110}, {\bar{1}11}, {010} and {310} faces, which basically define their habit. The linear thermal expansion tensor has been determined and the principal axis with maximum thermal expansion (\alpha ^{\,\prime}_{33} = 16.68 × 10−6 K−1), {\bf X}^{\,\prime}_{3}, was located 12° from the c axis. Its principal {\bf X}^{\,\prime}_{1}, {\bf X}^{\,\prime}_{2} and {\bf X}^{\,\prime}_{3} axes are [302], [010] and [106] directions, respectively, in the crystallographic system. The optical tensor has been studied at λ = 632.8 nm at room temperature; two principal axes, Ng and Nm, are located in the ac plane, while the other, Np, is parallel to [010]. The principal axis with maximum refractive index (ng = 2.45), Ng, was located 19° from the c axis.

Passively mode-locked Yb:KLu(WO4)2 oscillators.

We demonstrate passive mode locking based on the novel monoclinic double tungstate crystal Yb:KLu(WO4)2. We report the shortest pulses ever produced with an Yb-doped tungstate laser using a semiconductor saturable absorber. A pulse duration of 81 fs has been achieved for an average power of 70 mW at 1046 nm. We compare the performance of the polarization oriented parallel to the Nm- and Np-crystallo-optic axes. Results in the femtosecond and picosecond regime are presented applying either Ti:sapphire or diode laser pumping. The great potential of Yb:KLu(WO4)2 as an active medium for ultrashort pulses is demonstrated for the first time, to our knowledge.

Efficient tunable laser operation of Tm:KGd(WO/sub 4/)/sub 2/ in the continuous-wave regime at room temperature

Tm:KGd(WO/sub 4/)/sub 2/ is studied as a three-level laser on the /sup 3/F/sub 4/ /spl rarr/ /sup 3/H/sub 6/ transition and a tunable source in the 2-/spl mu/m spectral range, operating at room temperature. An overall tunability extending from 1790 to 2042 nm is achieved with maximum output powers of 400 mW for an absorbed pump power of 1 W. Various doping levels, pump wavelengths and polarization configurations are compared and the advantages of the monoclinic double tungstates over other Tm-hosts are outlined.

Optical spectroscopy of Pr3+ in KGd(WO4)2 single crystals

The polarized optical absorption (OA) and photoluminescence of Pr3+ doped KGd(WO4)2 (KGW) single crystals have been measured at selected temperatures between 7 and 300 K. For the studied Pr concentrations, [Pr] = 0.03×1020-1.9×1020 cm-3, a unique site is observed. 74 energy levels were experimentally determined for this site and labelled with the appropriate A or B irreducible representations corresponding to the C2 symmetry of the Gd point site in KGW. The set was fitted to a Hamiltonian of adjustable parameters including free-ion as well as real Bqk and complex Sqk crystal-field parameters. A good simulation of the experimental crystal field energies was achieved with a root mean square deviation σ = 15.3 cm-1. Distortions in the oxygen bonds to Pr3+ are found to contribute to the broadening of some OA bands, particularly those related to the 1D2 multiplet. The OA edge is determined by the interconfigurational 4f→4f15d1 Pr3+ transition peaking at 34 200 cm-1. From the average 300 K OA cross sections the radiative lifetimes of the Pr3+ multiplets have been calculated considering the standard and modified Judd-Ofelt (JO) theories. A better agreement with the experimental results is obtained by the standard theory: the average JO parameters obtained at 2 = 12.0×10-20 cm2, 4 = 8.15×10-20 cm2 and 6 = 2.64×10-20 cm2. Electrons excited to the 3P0 multiplet decay very efficiently to the 1D2 multiplet even at 15 K. In samples with [Pr]≥0.3×1020 cm-3 the excitation of the 1D2 multiplet decays non-radiatively by an electric dipole-dipole transfer between Pr neighbours.

Continuous-wave laser oscillation of Yb/sup 3+/ in monoclinic KLu(WO/sub 4/)/sub 2/

The strongly anisotropic monoclinic double tungstate crystal KLu(WO/sub 4/)/sub 2/ was doped with Yb/sup 3+/ ions and shown to be a highly efficient active laser medium in the 1-/spl mu/m spectral range for continuous-wave room-temperature operation, very suitable for pumping with InGaAs laser diodes.

Emission cross sections and spectroscopy of Ho/sup 3+/ laser channels in KGd(WO/sub 4/)/sub 2/ single crystal

The spectroscopic properties of Ho/sup 3+/ laser channels in KGd(WO/sub 4/)/sub 2/ crystals have been investigated using optical absorption, photoluminescence, and lifetime measurements. The radiative lifetimes of Ho/sup 3+/ have been calculated through a Judd-Ofelt (JO) formalism using 300-K optical absorption results. The JO parameters obtained were /spl Omega//sub 2/=15.35/spl times/10/sup -20/ cm/sup 2/, /spl Omega//sub 4/=3.79/spl times/10/sup -20/ cm/sup 2/, /spl Omega//sub 6/=1.69/spl times/10/sup -20/ cm/sup 2/. The 7-300-K lifetimes obtained in diluted (8/spl middot/10/sup 18/ cm/sup -3/) KGW:0.1% Ho samples are: /spl tau/(/sup 5/F/sub 3/)/spl ap/0.9 /spl mu/s, /spl tau/(/sup 5/S/sub 2/)=19-3.6 /spl mu/s, and /spl tau/(/sup 5/F/sub 5/)/spl ap/1.1 /spl mu/s. For Ho concentrations below 1.5/spl times/10/sup 20/ cm/sup -3/, multiphonon emission is the main source of non radiative losses, and the temperature independent multiphonon probability in KGW is found to follow the energy gap law /spl tau//sub ph//sup -1/(0)=/spl beta/exp(-/spl alpha//spl Delta/E), where /spl beta/=1.4/spl times/10/sup -7/ s/sup -1/, and /spl alpha/=1.4/spl times/10/sup 3/ cm. Above this holmium concentration, energy transfer between Ho impurities also contributes to the losses. The spectral distributions of the Ho/sup 3+/ emission cross section /spl sigma//sub EM/ for several laser channels are calculated in /spl sigma/- and /spl pi/-polarized configurations. The peak a /spl sigma//sub EM/ values achieved for transitions to the /sup 5/I/sub 8/ level are /spl ap/2/spl times/10/sup -20/ cm/sup 2/ in the /spl sigma/-polarized configuration, and three main lasing peaks at 2.02, 2.05, and 2.07 /spl mu/m are envisaged inside the /sup 5/I/sub 7//spl rarr//sup 5/I/sub 8/ channel.

1.48 and 1.84 μm thulium emissions in monoclinic KGd(WO4)2 single crystals

By exciting at 788 nm, we have characterized the near infrared emissions of trivalent thulium ions in monoclinic KGd(WO4)2 single crystals at 1.48 and 1.84 μm as a function of dopant concentration from 0.1% to 10% and temperature from 10 K to room temperature. We used the reciprocity method to calculate the maximum emission cross-section of 3.0×10−20 cm2 at 1.838 μm for the polarization parallel to the Nm principal optical direction. These results agrees well with the experimental data. Experimental decay times of the 3H4→3F4 and 3F4→3H6 transitions have been measured as a function of thulium concentration.

Optical characterization of Tm3+-doped KGd(WO4)2 single crystals

Abstract In this paper we present the optical characterization of KGd(WO4)2 single crystals doped with thulium ions at several concentrations from 0.1% to 10% grown by the top-seeded-solution-growth slow-cooling method. Polarized optical absorption was carried out between 350 nm (28,571 cm−1) and 2 μm (5000 cm−1), at room temperature (RT) and low temperature (6 K). We determined the splitting of the corresponding excited energy levels of thulium in KGd(WO4)2. Luminescence spectra was obtained between 300 nm (33,333 cm−1) and 2.5 μm (4000 cm−1) by pumping at 688 nm (14,535 cm−1) and 788 nm (12,690 cm−1) from 10 K to RT. Finally, we proposed a 788 nm pumping scheme for the generation of the emissions.

Erbium spectroscopy and 1.5-/spl mu/m emission in KGd(WO/sub 4/)/sub 2/: Er,Yb single crystals

We grew good-optical-quality KGd(WO/sub 4/)/sub 2/ single crystals doped with erbium and ytterbium ions at several concentrations of dopants using the top-seeded-solution growth slow-cooling method (TSSG). We performed the spectroscopic characterization of this material related to the 1.5-mm infrared emission of erbium which is interesting for laser applications. To do this, we carried out polarized optical absorption at room temperature (RT) and at low temperature (6 K) and performed luminescence studies of the emission and lifetime. We obtained the 1.5-mm emission of erbium after selective laser pump excitation of the ytterbium ion and energy transfer between the two ions. The maximum emission cross section for 1.5 mm was about 2.56/spl times/10/sup -20/ cm/sup 2/ for the polarization of light with the electric field parallel to the N/sub m/ principal optical direction. This value was higher than for other erbium-doped materials with application in solid-state lasers such as LiYF/sub 4/:Er(YLF:Er), Y/sub 3/Al/sub 5/O/sub 12/:Er(YAG:Er), YAlO/sub 3/:Er, and Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/:Er.

Yb sensitising of Er3+ up-conversion emission in KGd(WO4)2:Er:Yb single crystals

KGd(1−x−y)ErxYby(WO4)2 (x/y=0.024/0, 0.02/0.022 and 0.019/0.066) single crystals have been grown by the top seeded solution growth slow cooling method using K2W2O7 as solvent. Erbium concentration was selected at [Er]=1.2–1.5×1020 cm−3 in order to minimise Er–Er non-radiative losses and the ytterbium concentration was varied in the range [Yb]=0–4.2×1020 cm−3. The optical absorption in the 850–1100 nm spectral range is characterised by the overlap between ytterbium 2F5/2 and erbium 4I11/2 manifolds. At room temperature the green 4S3/2 Er3+ emission has been excited by energy transfer from the 2F5/2 (934.2, 953.2 and 980.8 nm) ytterbium multiplet. The up-converted emission is weakly polarised and within the concentration range studied its intensity increases with the Yb3+ concentration.