Effect of cerium codoping in Er 3+, Ce 3+: NaLa (MoO 4) 2 crystals

Abstract

The detailed polarized spectroscopic investigation of I 112 4 and I 132 4 states of Er3+ ions in Czochralski-grown NaLa (Mo O4) 2 single crystals doped with Er3+ and codoped with Ce3+ as a function of cerium concentration is presented. The main results of room-temperature lifetime investigation show that the I 112 4 lifetime reduces by about 50 times from the solely Er-doped sample to the crystal codoped with 50 at. % of Ce, while in the same experimental conditions, the lifetime of the I 132 4 level reduces by less than two times in the most heavily Ce codoped sample. This result looks very promising from the point of view of obtaining low-threshold 1.5-μm laser oscillation. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.