Infrared cross-section measurements for crystals doped with Er3+, Tm3+, and Ho3+

The absorption and emission cross sections of the transition between the ground spin-orbit multiplet and the lowest excited multiplet were measured for Er³⁺, Tm³⁺, and Ho³⁺ ions in a variety of crystalline hosts. The materials that were investigated include LiYF₄, BaY₂F₈, Y ₃Al₅O₁₂, LaF₃, KCaF₃ , YAlO₃, and La₂Be₂O₅. The absolute magnitudes of the emission cross sections were determined from the absorption spectra, with the aid of the principle of reciprocity. The calculated radiative emission lifetimes derived from these measured cross sections agree well with the measured emission decay times for most materials. The potential use of these rare-earth-doped materials in pulsed laser applications requires that the ground state exhibit adequate splitting to minimize the detrimental effects of the ground state thermal population, and also that the emission cross section be sufficiently large to permit efficient extraction energy. The systems based on Ho³⁺ in the eightfold coordinated sites of LiYF₄, BaY₂F₈, and Y₃Al₅O₁₂ appear to be the most promising