Growth and spectroscopic characterization of Er 3+: Sr 3Y(BO 3) 3 crystal

Abstract

This paper reports the growth and spectroscopic characterization of Er 3+:Sr 3Y(BO 3) 3 crystal. Er 3+:Sr 3Y(BO 3) 3 crystal with dimensions up to ∅20×35 mm 3 has been grown by Czochralski method. The polarized spectroscopic properties of Er 3+:Sr 3Y(BO 3) 3 crystal were investigated. Based on the Judd–Ofelt theory, the effective intensity parameters Ω t were obtained: Ω 2=1.71×10 −20 cm 2, Ω 4=1.39×10 −20 cm 2, Ω 6=0.74×10 −20 cm 2 for π-polarization, and Ω 2=1.77×10 −20 cm 2, Ω 4=1.44×10 −20 cm 2, Ω 6=0.65×10 −20 cm 2 for σ-polarization. The emission cross-section σ em was calculated to be 4.75×10 −21 cm 2 for π-polarization at 1536 nm and 6.30×10 −21 cm 2 for σ-polarization at 1537 nm. The investigated results showed that Er 3+:Sr 3Y(BO 3) 3 crystal may be regarded as a potential laser host material for 1.55 μm IR solid-state lasers.