Growth, spectroscopy and CW laser operation of Ho3+ doped CaY0.9Gd0.1AlO4 single crystal

Ho3+-doped CaY0.9Gd0.1AlO4 single crystal was successfully grown by the Czochralski technique for the first time. The polarized absorption spectra, polarized luminescence spectra and fluorescence decay curve of the crystal were investigated at room temperature. The spectroscopic parameters are calculated based on Judd-Ofelt theory, the values of omega 2,4,6 were calculated to be 3.16 x 10(-20) cm(2), 3.93 x 10(-20) cm2, 0.91 x 10(-20) cm(2), respectively. The Ho:CaY0.9Gd0.1AlO4 crystal exhibits strong emission at 2013 nm for pi-and 2032 nm for sigma-polarizations with stimulated emission cross section of 6.64 x 10-20 cm2 and 1.90 x 10(-20 )cm(2), respectively. The fluorescence lifetime of the 5I7 level was measured to be 6.60 ms. The continuous-wave (CW) laser operation of Ho:CaY0.9Gd0.1AlO4 crystal around 2 mu m was demonstrated.

Automated summary

The Ho3+-doped CaY0.9Gd0.1AlO4 single crystal was grown by the Czochralski technique for the first time. The crystal’s polarized absorption spectra, luminescence spectra, and fluorescence decay curve were investigated at room temperature. The crystal exhibits strong emission at 2013 nm and 2032 nm for pi- and sigma-polarizations, respectively, with corresponding stimulated emission cross sections. The crystal was also demonstrated to operate as a continuous-wave laser around 2 μm.