Crystal Structure and Judd–Ofelt Analysis of Er~(3+) Doped LuAl_3(BO_3)_4 Crystal

Single crystal Er:LuAl_3(BO_3)(Er:Lu AB) is successfully grown using the top-seeded solution growth method with a K_2Mo_3O_(10) flux. The cell parameters of the grown crystal are estimated by an x-ray single crystal diffactometor and x-ray powder diffraction analysis. The result indicates that it still belongs to the space group R32. The obtained unit-cell parameters are a= 9.2793(19) ?, c= 7.210(3) ?, V= 537.65(27) ?~3, and Z=3.The absorption spectrum is measured at room temperature. The spectroscopy properties are investigated based on the Judd–Ofelt(J-O) theory, and the effective J-O parameters were calculated to be Ω_2=8.33×10~(-20),Ω_4=3.83×10~(-20), and Ω_6 =3.55×10~(-20). The emission spectra of Er:LuAB crystal at room temperature are also studied and the ~4I_(11/2)→~4I_(13/2) fluorescence around 3170 nm is observed. The emission cross section calculated by the F-L formula is 8.6×10~(-20) cm~2. These results suggest that the Er:LuAB crystal may be a promising ~3 μm laser material.