Spectroscopy and CW first laser operation of Yb-doped Gd-3(Al0.5Ga0.5)(5)O-12 crystal

Year: 2017

Authors: Toci G., Pirri A., Ryba-Romanowsky W., Berkowski M., Vannini M.

Autors Affiliation: C.N.R. – National Research Council, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, INO-CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy; C.N.R. – National Research Council, Istituto di Fisica Applicata “Nello Carrara,” IFAC-CNR, Via
Madonna del Piano 10, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy; Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Okólna 2, 50-422 Wroclaw, Poland; Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Aleja Lotników 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland

Abstract: We present the spectroscopic characterization and laser operation of a 2%at. Yb doped Gd3(Al0.5Ga0.5)5O12 (Yb:GAGG) crystal, grown with the Czochralski method. We determined the absorption and the emission spectrum, the upper level lifetime, and the thermal conductivity. The internal disordered structure determines a significant broadening of the emission band (12.1 nm FWHM) with respect to the parent composition Yb:GGG (8 nm FWHM). The laser performances were evaluated on an end pumped cavity, using a CW semiconductor laser as the pump source. We obtained a maximum slope efficiency of 60.8% and an optical to optical efficiency of 46.0%, with a maximum output power of 4 W, limited only by the available pump power. The tuning range extends from 995 nm to 1050 nm. To our knowledge this is the first spectroscopic investigation and the first assessment of the laser performance of an Yb:GAGG crystal with this composition (i.e. Al/Ga balance = 0.5/0.5).

Journal/Review: OPTICAL MATERIALS EXPRESS

Volume: 7 (1)      Pages from: 170  to: 178

KeyWords: Absorption spectroscopy; Aluminum; Efficiency; Emission spectroscopy; Semiconductor lasers; Ytterbium, CW semiconductor lasers; Disordered structures; Emission spectrums; Maximum output power; Optical-to-optical efficiency; Slope efficiencies; Spectroscopic characterization; Spectroscopic investigations, Pumping (laser); Lasers, solid-state; Rare earth and transition metal lasers; Lasers, tunable; Laser materials
DOI: 10.1364/OME.7.000170

Citations: 18
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