Spectroscopy of Yb3+ in the disordered Na2/7Gd4/7MoO4 crystal with a scheelite‐type cation‐deficient structure

Abstract

AbstractThe creation of cation vacancies in the scheelite‐type framework leads to the formation of Na2/7Gd4/7MoO4 compound, where cationic sites are shared by Na+, Gd3+, and vacancies. The spectroscopic properties at ∼1 µm of this novel disordered Yb3+‐doped crystal, grown by the Czochralski method, have been investigated. The absorption and fluorescence spectra at 10 and 300 K provide the important information on the absorption and emission cross‐sections as well as the Stark energy‐level positions of Yb3+ ions in the crystal. The wavelength dependence of the gain cross‐section has been determined, which predicts a broad tuning range and potential sub‐100‐fs laser pulse generation. The laser parameters βmin, Isat, and Imin have been calculated, and the perspectives for applications as a laser‐active material have been discussed.