Growth and Spectral Assessment of Yb3+-Doped KBaGd(MoO4)3 Crystal: A Candidate for Ultrashort Pulse and Tunable Lasers

Yi Yu,Yisheng Huang,Guofu Wang,Zhoubin Lin,Lizhen Zhang,Gerardo Adesso

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054450

Yi Yu, Yisheng Huang + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0054450

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Abstract

In order to explore new more powerful ultrashort pulse laser and tunable laser for diode-pumping, this paper reports the growth and spectral assessment of Yb3+-doped KBaGd(MoO4)3 crystal. An Yb3+:KBaGd(MoO4)3 crystal with dimensions of 50×40×9 mm3 was grown by the TSSG method from the K2Mo2O7 flux. The investigated spectral properties indicated that Yb3+:KBaGd(MoO4)3 crystal exhibits broad absorption and emission bands, except the large emission and gain cross-sections. This feature of the broad absorption and emission bands is not only suitable for the diode pumping, but also for the production of ultrashort pulses and tunability. Therefore, Yb3+:KBaGd(MoO4)3 crystal can be regarded as a candidate for the ultrashort pulse and tunable lasers.

Highlights

With the development of high power InGaAs diode lasers, the Yb3+-doped laser materials have attracted great interest
The laser crystals with disordered structure have been received much attention, because the disordered crystal structure can result in the broad absorption and emission bands of the laser crystals [1,2,3,4,5]
The powerful ultrashort pulse lasers have been achieved in some laser crystals, such as, Nd:SrGdGa3O7 [6] and Nd:CLNGG crystals [7]

Summary

Introduction

With the development of high power InGaAs diode lasers, the Yb3+-doped laser materials have attracted great interest. The simple electronic-level scheme of Yb3+ ion can reduce the excited state absorption, quantum defect and concentration, which is helpful to improve the laser efficiency. The Yb3+ ion in the crystals exhibit strong and broad absorption and emission bands, which is beneficial to diode pumped ultrashort pulse lasers and tunable lasers. The powerful ultrashort pulse lasers have been achieved in some laser crystals, such as, Nd:SrGdGa3O7 [6] and Nd:CLNGG crystals [7]. When the Yb3+-ion doped into the crystal with disordered structure, can it further improve the spectral properties of Yb3+-doped laser crystal materials

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