Optical amplification properties of Dy3+-doped Gd2SiO4, Lu2SiO5 and YAl3(BO3)4 single crystals

Comparative investigation of the optical amplification properties of dysprosium doped Gd₂SiO₅, Lu₂SiO₅ and YAl₃(BO₃)₄ single crystals was performed in a pump-and-probe experiment. High power laser pulses at 475 nm were used as the pump source in order to strongly populate the ⁴F_9/2 level of the Dy³⁺ ions due to ground state absorption. Low signal beam cw radiation at 574 nm was used as the probe beam to stimulate the emission associated with the ⁴F_9/2→⁶H_13/2 electronic transition of the Dy³⁺ ions. The process was modelled as a three levels system, and their populations were analysed and simulated in order to study the gain dynamics. Positive optical gain was observed and compared in these crystals. These results confirmed that among the systems studied the Dy³⁺-doped YAl₃(BO₃)₄ single crystal can be considered as a good candidate to develop an optical amplifier employing the ⁴F_9/2→⁶H_13/2 transition at around 574 nm which is the first step to consider as laser active media.