Spectroscopy and green upconversion laser emission of Er3+-doped crystals at room temperature

Abstract

The spectroscopic parameters of Er3+-doped crystals were determined with regard to the upconversion laser parameters of the green transition 4S3/2→4I15/2. The influence of excited-state absorption on this laser channel was determined. Furthermore, upconversion pump mechanisms using ground-state and excited-state absorption around 810 and 970 nm were investigated by direct measurements of excited-state absorption. The spectroscopic results confirm the pulsed room-temperature laser experiments on the 4S3/2→4I15/2 transition. The lasers based on Er:LiYF4, Er:Y3Al5O12, and Er:Lu3Al5O12 were directly excited into the upper laser level by an excimer laser pumped dye laser in the blue spectral range. In Er:LiYF4, Er:KYF4, and Er:Y3Al5O12, laser action was achieved with two-step upconversion pumping by a Ti:sapphire laser and a krypton ion laser. In the case of the fluorides, the additional pumping with the krypton ion laser was not necessary. The laser emission wavelengths were 551 nm for Er:LiYF4, 561 nm for Er:Y3Al5O12 and Er:Lu3Al5O12, and 562 nm for Er:KYF4. In addition, green quasi-cw laser emission of Er:LiYF4 pumped with an argon-ion laser was realized at room temperature.