Growth, structure, spectral and laser properties of Yb3+:LaMgB5O10 - a new laser material

A bulk crystal of Yb3+:LaMgB5O10 was grown successfully by the top seeded solution growth method for the first time to our knowledge. The detailed crystal structure data was given, revealing that the Yb3+:LaMgB5O10 crystal belongs to the monoclinic system with the space group P2(1)/n, and its unit cell parameters are: a = 8.8002 angstrom, b = 7.6136 angstrom, c = 9.4900 angstrom, beta = 92.46 degrees, V = 635.3 angstrom(3) and Z = 4. Investigation of its polarized spectral properties shows that the Yb3+:LaMgB5O10 crystal has broad, strong absorption and emission cross-sections. A continuous wave laser output of 2.76 W with a slope efficiency of 64.5% was obtained; the laser simultaneously oscillated at 1053 and 1057 nm at a pump power of 7.7 W. The results show that the Yb3+:LaMgB5O10 crystal is a promising laser crystal.