Visible laser emission of solid state pumped LiLuF{sub}4:Pr{sup}(3+)

摘要

In recent years there has been growing interest in the development of all-solid state laser sources emitting in the visible spectral region [1]. In this work we will investigate visible transitions of Pr in the crystal Pr:LiLuF{sub}4 (Pr:LLF). In particular we will report on the growth, emission and absorption spectroscopy as well as laser action at four different wavelengths. Findlay-Clay and Caird analysis have been carried out in order to characterise the cavity and the crystal quality. To the best of our knowledge the reported slope efficiencies are the highest reached for a Pr-based laser [2]. The crystal growth apparatus consists of a home-made Czochralski furnace with conventional resistive heating provided with a computer-assisted apparatus for diameter control. The single crystalline character of the sample was checked using X-ray Laue technique to identify the crystallographic axes of the crystal and to cut oriented samples. ICP analysis performed on the sample indicates 0.19% as actual doping concentration compared to 1.25% Pr content in the melt.