O.V. Pilipenko

Efficient 1 W continuous-wave diode-pumped Er,Yb:YAl3(BO3)4 laser

We report the spectroscopy and high-power continuous-wave (CW) diode-pumped laser operation of Er:Yb:YAl3(BO3) crystal. Absorption and stimulated emission spectra, emission lifetimes, and efficiency of energy transfer from Yb3+ to Er3+ ions were determined. A CW Er:Yb:YAB laser emitting at 1602, 1555, and 1531 nm with output power as high as 1W and slope efficiency up to 35% was demonstrated.

Optical properties of undoped and Yb3+-doped YAl3(BO3)4 crystals

The ordinary and extraordinary refractive indices of nominally undoped and Yb3+-doped (7 at %) YAl3(BO3)4 crystals have been measured in the visible range at temperatures from 20 to 400°C. The refractive indices are found to increase with temperature. The thermo-optic coefficients are on the order of ∼10−6. The temperature dependences of the refractive indices show a number of anomalies, suggestive of an incommensurate system exhibiting devil’s staircase behavior.

Dispersion and temperature dependence of the refractive indices of pure and Yb 3+ -doped crystals of YAl 3 (BO 3 ) 4

The dispersion of the refractive indices of nominally pure crystals of yttrium orthoborate and of yttrium orthoborate crystals doped with 7at.%Yb3+ has been measured in the visible region. The introduction of 7at.%Yb3+ produces an appreciable increase (in the third place after the decimal) of the refractive indices of the crystal and increases its anisotropy. The temperature dependences of the principal refractive indices have been measured in the range 293–633K, and the first- and second-order temperature coefficients have been found. The refractive index of the extraordinary ray increases with temperature more rapidly by a factor of 1.5–3 (depending on the wavelength) than the refractive index of the ordinary ray.

Growth of (Er,Yb):YAl3(BO3)4 laser crystals

Abstract(Er,Yb):YAl3(BO3)4 single crystals of optical quality, up to 15 × 10 × 10 mm3 in size, have been grown from a (Er0.023Yb0.116Y0.862)Al3(BO3)4 solution in a Y2O3-B2O3-K2Mo3O10 melt. The initial borate concentration was 17 wt %, and the flux cooling rate increased from 0.08 to 0.12°C/h in the range 1060–1000°C. The physical properties of the single crystals grown are good enough that they can be used as laser elements in systems with diode pumping and radiation near 1.5 μm.

Er,Yb:YAB laser with high output power

In this work we present spectroscopy, continuous-wave (cw) and Q-switched laser operation of Er,Yb-codoped YAl3(BO3)4 (Er,Yb:YAB) crystal under diode pumping. Single crystal of Er(1 at.%),Yb(11 at.%):YAB with dimensions of 15times15times20 mm was grown by the TSSG method using K2Mo3O10 based fluxes. The concentration of the dopants was measured by microprobe analysis. In conclusion, spectroscopic properties and CW and passively Q-switched diode-pumped laser performance of Er,Yb-codoped YAB crystals have been characterized. The results of laser experiments with more powerful diode pumping and cw output power exceeding 300 mW will be presented at the conference. Laser experiments were performed with a nearly hemispherical cavity consisting of 50-mm radius-of-curvature output coupler and plane high reflector.

Spectroscopy and Efficient High-Power Laser Operation of Er,Yb:YAl 3 (BO 3 ) 4 Crystal at 1.5-1.6 µm

We report on the spectroscopic propertires and high-power diode-pumped CW laser operation of Er, Yb:YAl3(BO3)4 crystals at 1602, 1555 and 1531 nm. An output power of 1 W and a slope efficiency of 35% were demonstrated.