Abstract
Garnet crystals possess many properties that are desirable in laser host materials, e.g., they are suitable for diode laser (LD) pumping, stable, hard, optically isotropic, and have good thermal conductivity, permitting laser operation at high average power levels. Recently, a new garnet material, GYSGG, was developed by replacing some of the yttrium ions (Y3+) with gadolinium ions (Gd3+) in YSGG, demonstrating great potential as a laser host material. GYSGG crystals doped with trivalent neodymium ion (Nd3+) and erbium ions (Er3+) were successfully grown for laser generation in the near- and mid-infrared range, with some of the laser performances reaching the level of mature laser gain media. This paper gives an overview of the achievements made in Nd3+- and Er3+-doped GYSGG lasers at different wavelength ranges. Additionally, full descriptions on Q-switching, mode-locking and wavelength-selecting methods for Nd:GYSGG, and the mechanisms of power scaling by co-doping sensitizers and deactivators in Er:GYSGG, are given. It is expected that this review will help researchers from related areas to quickly gain an understanding of these laser materials and promotes their commercialization and applications.
Highlights
Garnet crystals doped with the trivalent neodymium ion (Nd3+ ) are regarded as the best solid-state laser materials, due to their good physical characteristics and laser performance, as well as the convenience of diode laser (LD) pumping around 808 nm
This paper summarizes the development of Nd and different wavelengths underunder various operations
3+ and Er3+ doped performance indicators indicators with the common garnet materials indicates that Nd of main performance with the common garnet materials indicates that Nd3+ and crystals are good candidates for candidates solid-state laser media forlaser efficient operation at doped GYSGG
Summary
Garnet crystals doped with the trivalent neodymium ion (Nd3+ ) are regarded as the best solid-state laser materials, due to their good physical characteristics and laser performance, as well as the convenience of diode laser (LD) pumping around 808 nm. Trivalent erbium ion (Er3+ )-doped garnet crystals, such as Er:YAG and Er:YSGG, can directly give 2.7–3 μm mid-infrared laser radiation through the 4 I11/2 →4 I13/2 transition [4]. Such radiation has great value in medicine, as this is the strongest water absorption band throughout the optical regime. The details of the crystal growth (synthesis, single-crystal growth, doping concentration, segregation coefficient, etc.), physical properties (density, lattice parameter, refractive index, thermal conductivity, etc.), mechanical properties (hardness, fracture toughness, brittleness index, yield strength, etc.), spectral properties (absorption and emission spectrum, Judd–Ofelt analysis, energy-level transition, fluorescence lifetime, stimulated cross-section, etc.) and the radiation resistance of the.
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