Growth of LiNbO 3 co-doped with Er 3+/Yb 3+

Abstract

Single crystals of LiNbO 3 co-doped with Er 3+ and Yb 3+ have been grown by the Czochralski technique, from melts having a fixed erbium concentration (0.5 mol%) and different ytterbium concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mol%). Optical absorption measurements indicate the efficient incorporation of the rare-earth ions to the crystal, with the absorption bands characteristic of the 3 + valence. The co-doping with Yb 3+ increases substantially the absorption band in the 880–1040 nm region compared to Er-doped crystals. The incorporation of the rare-earth ions to the crystal is better described by considering both dopants as a single species with a solubility dependent on the total impurity concentration.