Title :
Crystal growth, frequency doubling, and infrared laser performance of Yb3+:BaCaBO3F
Author :
Schaffers, Kathleen I. ; DeLoach, Laura D. ; Payne, Stephen A.
Author_Institution :
Lawrence Livermore Nat. Lab., CA, USA
fDate :
5/1/1996 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Yb:BaCaBO3F(Yb:BCBF) has been investigated as a new laser crystal with potential for self-frequency doubling, Yb3+ in BCBF exhibits a maximum absorption cross section at 912 nm of 1.1×10-20 cm2 with a bandwidth (FWHM) of 19 nm. The maximum emission cross section at 1034 nm is 1.3×10-20 cm2 with a transition bandwidth of 24 nm. The measured emission lifetime of Yb3+ is 1.17 ms. An Yb:BCBF laser has been demonstrated with a Ti:sapphire pump source, and a measured slope efficiency of 38% has been obtained for the fundamental laser output. Single crystal powders of BCBF have been compared with KD +P for a relative measure of the second-harmonic generating potential, yielding deff(BCBF)~0.26 pm/V. The phasematching angle has been estimated from the refractive index data for type I second-harmonic generation of 0.517 μm light; the predicted angle is 37° from the c-axis. The growth, spectroscopy, laser performance, and linear and nonlinear optical properties of Yb:BCBF are reported
Keywords :
barium compounds; calcium compounds; crystal growth from melt; infrared spectra; laser beams; optical fabrication; optical harmonic generation; optical materials; optical pumping; refractive index; solid lasers; ytterbium; 1034 nm; 38 percent; 912 nm; Al2O3:Ti; BaCaBO3F:Yb; Ti:sapphire pump source; Yb3+:BaCaBO3F; absorption cross section; bandwidth; crystal growth; emission cross section; emission lifetime; frequency doubling; fundamental laser output; infrared laser performance; laser crystal; laser performance; linear optical properties; nonlinear optical properties; phasematching angle; second-harmonic generating potential; self-frequency doubling; slope efficiencies; spectroscopy; transition bandwidth; Bandwidth; Electromagnetic wave absorption; Frequency; Laser excitation; Laser transitions; Phase estimation; Phase measurement; Powders; Pump lasers; Yield estimation;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
