Spectroscopy and laser operation of Nd-doped mixed sesquioxides (Lu1?x Sc x )2O3

We report on crystal growth, spectroscopic investigations, crystal field tuning, and laser experiments of neodymium doped mixed sesquioxides (Lu_1?x Sc _x )₂O₃. Crystals were grown by the Nacken?CKyropoulos and the Heat-Exchanger method. Emission spectra for several mixing ratios are presented. Cw laser experiments were carried out with a 0.35?at.%-doped Nd:Lu_1.82Sc_0.18O₃ crystal by using a Ti:sapphire laser as pump source, achieving a maximum slope efficiency of 47?% with respect to the absorbed pump power and a maximum output power of 356?mW at a wavelength of 952.7?nm. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first continous wave (cw) laser operation of a Nd-doped mixed sesquioxide.     

The investigation of the laser properties of a new class of the mixed Y x Sc1 ? x VO4:Nd3+ crystals

The investigation of structural perfection and laser properties of a new class of mixed vanadates Y _x Sc_{1 ? x} VO₄:Nd³⁺ was carried out in this work. The research of the structural perfection of the crystals was carried out by applying the X-ray diffractometer. It was shown that the Y _x Sc_{1 ? x} VO₄:Nd³⁺ crystals have a good structural perfection. The lasing experiment shows that the maximal CW output power of 2 W was achieved upon 5.8 W pumping. The maximal slope efficiency of 41.5% was obtained along the [100] crystallographic direction for the ??-polarization.     

1.34 μm fluorescence and laser properties of Nd:La0.11Y0.89VO4 crystal

For Nd:La_xY_1−xVO₄ (x = 0.11) crystal, the ⁴F_3/2 → ⁴I_13/2 transition property was investigated for the first time. The fluorescence peak of Nd:La_0.11Y_0.89VO₄ crystal exhibited obvious inhomogeneous broadening comparing with that of Nd:YVO₄ crystal. With laser diode array as pump source, 1.34 μm continuous-wave (CW) and active Q-switched laser operations based on ⁴F_3/2 → ⁴I_13/2 transition were realized. For CW laser operation, the maximum output power of 2.47, 2.13 W is obtained with slope efficiencies of 29.4%, 27.6%, and optical to optical conversion efficiency of 26.2%, 24.7%, respectively for a, c cut crystal samples. For acousto-optic (AO) Q-switched laser operation, the shortest pulse width, highest peak power and maximum pulse energy came from the a-cut sample, which were 13 ns, 2.69 kW and 35 μJ, respectively.     

Efficient pulse operation of Nd:GdVO4 laser with AO Q-switch

We realized an efficient laser diode-pumped Nd:GdVO₄ laser with crystals grown by the floating zone method. In the lasing experiment, a slope efficiency of 78% was achieved with a 1 at.% Nd-doped crystal by pumping at 879 nm. Furthermore, excellent pulsed laser operation was demonstrated with the Nd:GdVO₄ crystal by using an acousto-optical (AO) Q-switch. A pulse width of 7 ns was observed when the pulse-repetition frequency was 40 kHz. It is the shortest pulse width recorded in the case of the AO Q-switched Nd:GdVO₄ laser.     

Continuous-wave and passively Q-switched Nd:LYSO lasers

Continuous-wave (CW) and passively Q-switched performance of a Nd-doped oyorthosilicate mixing crystal, (Nd_0.005Lu_0.4975Y_0.4975)₂SiO₅ (Nd:LYSO), were reported. As a result, new dual-wavelength all-solid-state lasers at 1075 and 1079 nm were achieved. When the absorbed pump power was 3.87 W, the CW laser produced 1.1 W output, corresponding to an optical conversion efficiency of 28.4% and a slope efficiency of 32.4%. By using a Cr⁴⁺:YAG wafer as the saturable absorber, we achieved Q-switching operation of Nd:LYSO crystal. The maximal average output power, shortest pulse width, largest pulse energy and highest peak power were measured to be 294 mW, 27.5 ns, 34.3 μJ and 1.18 kW, respectively. By difference frequency, these dual-wavelength lasers have potential applications for the generation of a broadband coherent radiation from 0.7–1.3 THz.     

Passively Q-switched laser performance of c-cut Nd:Gd0.63Y0.37VO4 crystal

Passively Q-switched c-cut Nd:Gd_0.63Y_0.37VO₄ laser performance at 1.06 μm was demonstrated with Cr⁴⁺:YAG as saturable absorbers for the first time to our knowledge. This c-cut mixed crystal was found to have large energy storage capacity. The shortest pulse width, largest pulse energy, and highest peak power were obtained to be 6.6 ns, 201.7 μJ, and 30.6 kW, respectively.     

Dual-wavelength diode-pumped laser operation of N p-cut and N g-cut Tm:KLu(WO4)2 crystals

Simultaneous continuous-wave laser oscillation at two wavelengths has been observed and studied in a diode-pumped monoclinic N _p-cut Tm:KLu(WO₄)₂ for different transmission of the output coupler. The maximum output power reached 1.15 W with a slope efficiency of 20.4 % with respect to the absorbed power for polarization parallel to the N _m optical axis. In an analogous N _g-cut crystal, the dual-wavelength laser operation is accompanied by polarization switching with increasing pump power and the switching point depends on the output coupling. The thresholds are slightly higher, and the slope efficiency reached a maximum of 25.5 % for polarization parallel to N _m at low pump levels, but at high pump levels, the oscillating polarization is parallel to N _p, reaching maximum output power of 3.09 W. Simple modelling with rate equations taking into account reabsorption losses explains qualitatively the complex behavior observed in the continuous-wave laser experiments with this anisotropic biaxial laser crystal.     

Diode-pumped orthogonally polarized dual-wavelength Nd3+:LaBO2MoO4 laser

Polarized spectroscopic properties related to 1.07 μm laser operation of a 1.8 at.% Nd³⁺:LaBO₂MoO₄ crystal grown by the Czochralski method were investigated at room temperature. Using a 2.2-mm-thick, Z-cut Nd³⁺:LaBO₂MoO₄ crystal as gain medium, orthogonally polarized dual-wavelength laser at 1,068 and 1,074 nm was first realized in a plano-concave resonator end-pumped by a quasi-continuous-wave 795 nm diode laser. A total output peak power of 1.2 W with slope efficiency of 26 % around 1.07 μm was obtained. The influences of resonator length and pump power on output laser wavelength were also investigated.     

GdGd interaction and frequency dependence of the ESR linewidth in metallic GdxY1−xP,GdxSc1−xP and GdxY1−xAs

We have investigated the frequency dependence of the high temperature ESR linewidth of the metallic rare earth pnictides Gd_xY_1?xP, Gd_xSc_1?xP and Gd_xY_1?xAs (1?x?0.2) from 9 up to 71 GHz. The Gd pnictides represent a group of compounds where the Korringa relaxation rate, which in most metals and metallic compounds determines the ESR linewidth, is unusually small. Thus, the behaviour of the linewidth can be discussed in terms of exchange narrowing of dipolar contributions.     

Experimental study on the 1.94-μm laser performance of c-Cut Tm:YAP crystal with various doping concentration

The influence of the thulium ion concentration on the 1.94-??m laser performance of c-cut Tm:YAP crystal was investigated in this paper. Three crystals with 3, 4, and 5% Tm³⁺ (atom concentration) were examined at 18°C. Our experimental results showed that, the best power performance was obtained with the 4% Tm:YAP crystal. By using 24.8 W of incident pump power at 795 nm, a maximum of 7.5 W of output power was obtained. The slope efficiency was 48.8%, corresponding to diode-to-Tm conversion efficiency of 30.2%.     

Spectral properties and 1.5–1.6 μm laser operation of Er:Yb:NaCe(WO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> crystal

An Er:Yb:NaCe(WO₄)₂ crystal was grown by the Czochralski method. Spectral properties of the crystal were investigated and compared with those of the Er:Yb:Ce:NaGd(WO₄)₂ crystal. The green up-conversion was not observed when the Er:Yb:NaCe(WO₄)₂ crystal was excited by a diode laser at 970 nm. The efficiency of energy transfer from Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺ in the Er:Yb:NaCe(WO₄)₂ crystal was calculated to be about 93%. End-pumped by a diode laser at 970 nm in a hemispherical cavity, 0.95 W quasi-CW laser at 1.5–1.6 μm was achieved in a 1.47-mm-thick c-cut Er:Yb:NaCe(WO₄){ia2} crystal, the slope efficiency was 11%, and the threshold was 2.83 W.     

Tunable room-temperature laser action of Cr4+-doped Y3ScxAl5−xO12

A new class of tunable room-temperature Cr⁴⁺ lasers is presented: Cr⁴+-doped Y₃Sc_xAl_5–xO₁₂ garnets. With increasing scandium content the emission shifts to longer wavelengths due to the weakening of the crystal field. Free running laser wavelengths are 1440, 1498, 1548 and 1584 nm for x = 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5, respectively. Continuous tunability is obtained from 1309 to 1628 nm.     

High-efficiency, high-power, diode-pumped continuous-wave Tm:YAlO3 slab lasers

We report diode end-pumped continuous-wave Tm:YAlO₃ slab lasers with high power and high efficiency. At room temperature, b-cut Tm:YAlO₃ slabs with doping concentrations of 1, 4 and 5 at.% pumped by fiber-coupled and fast-axis collimated laser diodes with different wavelengths are compared. Tm:YAlO₃ slab lasers of 4 at.% doping concentrations have the highest optical-to-optical efficiency. When pumped with fiber-coupled and fast-axis collimated laser diodes, the maximum output powers are 11 W and 15 W, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 52% and 40%, respectively.     

LD端面抽运c切Nd:YVO4自拉曼倍频589 nm黄光激光研究

报道了LD端面抽运c切Nd:YVO₄自拉曼倍频黄光激光器的研究. 采用10 mm长,二类临界相位匹配角 (θ=69°,ø=0°)切割的KTP晶体作为倍频晶体. 考虑到c切Nd:YVO₄跃迁截面较小,所以通过对谐振腔及晶体膜系的严格设计,减少腔内插入损耗和衍射损耗. 最终在脉冲重复率为10 kHz,抽运功率为11.2 W下,获得了最高570 mW的倍频黄光激光输出,对应抽运光到倍频黄光的转化效率约为 关键词： 拉曼激光 c切Nd:YVO₄')" href="#">c切Nd:YVO₄ 589 nm 黄光激光     

1.3-µm passive Q-switching of a Nd-doped mixed vanadate bounce laser in combination with a V:YAG saturable absorber

6.5-W, 1.3-µm passively Q-switched output was demonstrated from a side-pumped Nd-doped Gd_0.6Y_0.4VO₄ bounce laser in combination with a V:YAG saturable-absorber crystal. Experimental output powers of 6.5 W and 6 W were measured at a maximum pump level in multi- and TEM₀₀-mode operations, corresponding to optical-to-optical efficiencies of 17.5% and 16.2%, respectively.     

Hyperfine interactions in Sc<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Y<Subscript>x</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript> cubic Laves alloys

Effects of hybridization of 3d bands of iron with 3d bands of scandium and 4d bands of yttrium in Sc_1?xY_xFe₂ cubic Laves alloys (0≤_x≤1) are studied by the nuclear magnetic resonance method. The concentration dependences of the lattice parameters a, saturation magnetization σ, and hyperfine fields at the ⁵⁷Fe, ⁴⁵Sc, and ⁸⁹Y nuclei—as well as the ²⁷Al impurity nuclei, whose atoms substitute iron atoms in the lattices of these alloys—are measured. The “local” and “induced” contributions to hyperfine fields at the ⁵⁷Fe nuclei are separated and the magnetic moments at iron atoms are estimated. It is found that the hybridization effect leads to the formation of magnetic moments at Sc and Y atoms (whose direction is opposite to the direction of the magnetic moment at iron atoms) and is responsible for the ferrimagnetic structure in Sc_1?xY_xFe₂ alloys.     

单斜结构的Yb:KLu(WO4)2晶体光谱和激光性质的各向异性

研究了Yb:KLu(WO₄)₂晶体对非偏振抽运光的吸收以及连续波激光振荡性质. 晶体结构的低对称性导致晶体光谱呈强烈各向异性,最强的吸收和发射都发生在平行于N_m主轴的偏振方向上. N_g切向晶体具有最高的非偏振抽运光吸收效率和最大的激光功率产生潜力,2 mm长的晶体产生的最高连续波输出功率为11 W,相对于吸收抽运功率,光—光转换效率为68%,而斜率效率则达80%. 关键词： 吸收谱 发射谱 激光振荡 各向异性     

Effect of iso- and heterovalent additives on characteristics of highly transparent Nd(Yb):Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramics

The possibility of synthesis and characteristics of highly transparent Y₂O₃ ceramics doped with Nd³⁺ and Yb³⁺ were studied. The ceramics crystal structure was disordered for the first time by simultaneously substituting Y³⁺ cations by Lu³⁺ or Sc³⁺ isovalent ions and Zr⁴⁺ heterovalent ions. The developed technique allowed synthesis of highly transparent Nd³⁺:Y₂O₃, Nd³⁺: Y₂O₃ + 6 mol % ZrO₂, Nd³⁺: (Lu_0.25Y_0.75)₂O₃ + 6 mol % ZrO₂, Nd³⁺:(Sc_0.25Y_0.75)₂O₃ + 6 mol % ZrO₂, and Yb³⁺:(Sc_0.25Y_0.75)₂O₃ + 6 mol % ZrO₂ ceramics with transmittance to 82.2%. It was shown that introduction of iso- and heterovalent additives Sc₂O₃, Lu₂O₃, and ZrO₂ into Nd³⁺:Y₂O₃ decreases average crystallite sizes to ∼1 μm and reduces the pore content, thus making it possible to produce pore-free ceramics. These additives broaden the spectral band of the ⁴ F _3/2 → ⁴ I _11/2 transition of the neodymium ion to 40 nm.     

Total conductivity in Sc-doped LaTiO3 + δ perovskites

A series of Sc-doped lanthanum titanate perovskites, LaTi_(1???x)Sc _x O_3?+?δ with x?=?0, 0.2, 0.25 and 0.3, was prepared by sol-gel method. All compositions were found to exhibit orthorhombic crystal structure. An increase in unit cell volume was observed for composition with x?=?0.2. The oxidation states of La³⁺, Sc³⁺ and Ti³⁺ ions have been established using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It is observed that an enhancement in total conductivity of LaTiO_3?+?δ perovskite is achieved only at lower doping concentration. A reverse effect is observed for higher dopant concentration.     

Growth, polarized spectral properties, and 1.5–1.6 μm laser operation of Er:Yb:Sr3Gd2(BO3)4 crystal

An Er:Yb:Sr₃Gd₂(BO₃)₄ crystal was grown by the Czochralski method. The polarized spectral properties of the crystal were investigated, including the polarized absorption and fluorescence spectra and fluorescence decay. The fluorescence quantum efficiency of the upper laser level ⁴I_13/2 of Er³⁺ ions and the efficiency of the energy transfer from Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺ ions were calculated. End-pumped by a diode laser at 970 nm in a hemispherical cavity, a 1.6 W quasi-cw laser at 1.5–1.6 μm with a slope efficiency of 18% and an absorbed pump threshold of 5.9 W was achieved in a 1.8-mm-thick Z-cut Er:Yb:Sr₃Gd₂(BO₃)₄ crystal. This crystal has a flat and broad gain curve at 1.5–1.6 μm and so is also a potential gain medium for tunable and short pulse lasers.