Spectroscopy and 2.8 μm laser operation of Er3+-doped (Lu, Y, Sc)-mixed garnet crystal

Abstract

We report on the spectropic and continuous-wave (CW) laser properties of a novel Er3+-doped mixed garnet (Er:LuYSGG) crystal. The maximum phonon energy of Er:LuYSGG was measured to be 720 cm−1, which is lower than that of Er:YSGG crystal. Fluorescence lifetimes of 4I11/2 and 4I13/2 levels amounts to 2.1 ms and 3.2 ms, indicating a potential capability for mid-infrared laser emission. For the CW laser operation, a maximum output power of 472 mW was achieved at 2797 nm, with a slope efficiency of as high as 24%.