Growth, thermal, spectroscopy and 2.8 μm laser performance of Er:LuYGG crystal

Abstract

A novel mid-infrared (Er0.3Lu0.1Y0.6)3Ga5O12 laser crystal is successfully grown by the Czochralski method, the crystal structure, segregation coefficient, thermal performance, spectroscopy and 2.8 μm laser performance are studied systematically. The crystal possesses a pure garnet phase with a thermal conductivity of 4.54 W m−1 K−1. It exhibits a broader absorption band around 966 nm and some strong emission peaks at 2.6–3 μm, corresponding to the absorption cross-section of 1.39 × 10−21 cm2 at 966 nm and emission cross-section of 1.25 × 10−20 cm2 at 2822 nm, respectively. The level lifetimes of 4I11/2 and 4I13/2 are fitted to be 0.885 and 3.203 ms. A LD end-pumped Er:LuYGG laser has been demonstrated, achieving a maximum output power of 339 mW and a slope efficiency of 17.77 %. The primary laser wavelength is centered at 2824.76 nm. All the results indicate that the Er:LuYGG crystal is a novel and promising crystal material to realize the 3 μm laser.