Growth and laser operation of Yb-doped mixed vanadate crystals

Abstract

Abstract Three mixed Yb t Y x Lu 1− t − x VO 4 crystals, with x =0.923, 0.848 and 0.708, were grown by the Czochralski method. Polarized absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra were studied at room temperature. The absorption cross sections at 985 nm are 5.46×10 −20 cm 2 , 5.70×10 −20 cm 2 , and 5.97×10 −20 cm 2 , respectively, for π polarization. The broadest bandwidth of the absorption spectrum reaches up to 38.22 nm for σ polarization. Fluorescence lifetimes are almost the same (0.331 ms, 0.327 ms and 0.329 ms). CW laser operation was achieved at room temperature with a maximum output power of 1.19 W at a pump power of 8.8 W.