Laser performance of Yb^3+ doped oxyorthosilicates LYSO and GYSO
2009; Optica Publishing Group; Volume: 17; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1364/oe.17.008461
ISSN1094-4087
AutoresBrian K. Brickeen, Eliot Geathers,
Tópico(s)Photorefractive and Nonlinear Optics
ResumoYtterbium offers a number of advantages as the active ion in solid-state laser crystals, but is hindered by the disadvantages of a three level lasing scheme. Yb(3+)-doped oxyorthosilicates have emerged in recent years as potentially quasi-four level laser materials. Two such crystals, Yb:GdYSiO(5) and Yb:LuYSiO(5), are investigated to determine the extent of four-level behavior. It is shown that these crystals demonstrate a significant reduction in the pump intensity required to reach threshold, but still exhibit three-level effects in terms of self-absorption, population inversion, and thermal sensitivity. The important material properties such as the coefficient of thermal expansion and the thermo-optic coefficient are measured.
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