Improvement of single pulse energy and laser efficiency by co-doping Cr3+ ions into the Er:YAG crystal

Temperature distribution and the laser performance of LD end-pumped LuYSGG/Er:LuYSGG composite crystal

“…Some matrix crystals that are suitable for doping with rare earth ions include Y 3 Al 5 O 12 , 7,8 YAlO 3 , 9 Y 3 Ga 5 O 12 , 10 Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 , 11 Y 3 Sc 2 Ga 3 O 12 , 12 Gd 1.17 Y 1.83 Sc 2 Ga 3 O 12 , 13 Lu 2 O 3 , Y 2 O 3 , 14,15 CaF 2 , 16 SrF 2 , 17 and LiYF 4 . 18 Among them, the oxide and sesquioxide crystals are favored by researchers owing to their good chemical stability, excellent mechanical property, and high thermal conductivity.…”

Growth, spectroscopic, and 2.7-μm Q-switched laser properties of Cr,Er:YAP crystal by xenon-lamp pumping

“…The mid-infrared laser near 3 μm has been achieved with single pulse energy exceeding 1 J in various crystals including Er:YAG, Cr,Er:YAG, Er:YAP, Cr,Er:YSGG, etc. [13][14][15] Thus, the xenon lamp-pumped laser is still an important method to obtain the mid-infrared laser near 3 μm up to now. Especially for the Q-switched laser, high energy, high peak power, and narrow pulse width Er 3þ -doped mid-infrared laser is easy to achieve by the xenon lamp-pumped and electro-optical Q-switching technology.…”

“…For this situation, the chromium has been co-doped as one sensitizer to increase the pumping efficiency, and ultimately improve the laser efficiency, such as in the Cr,Er:YSGG, Cr,Er:YAG, Cr,Er:GGG, and Cr,Er,Pr:GYSGG crystals. 13,[17][18][19] Now, the xenon lamp-pumped Er:YAP laser has been proved to possess excellent laser performance, whereas the work about the Cr 3þ , Er 3þ co-doped YAP crystal and laser needs to be promoted further.…”

“…The flash lamp-pumped Er3+-doped laser possesses the advantages of high output energy, low cost, and ease of commercialization. The mid-infrared laser near 3 μm has been achieved with single pulse energy exceeding 1 J in various crystals including Er:YAG, Cr,Er:YAG, Er:YAP, Cr,Er:YSGG, etc 13 – 15 Thus, the xenon lamp-pumped laser is still an important method to obtain the mid-infrared laser near 3 μm up to now.…”

“…However, the Er3+ only has several narrow band absorption peaks, which greatly limits the absorption efficiency of the Er3+-doped crystal for the xenon lamp pump light and the output efficiency of the mid-infrared laser. For this situation, the chromium has been co-doped as one sensitizer to increase the pumping efficiency, and ultimately improve the laser efficiency, such as in the Cr,Er:YSGG, Cr,Er:YAG, Cr,Er:GGG, and Cr,Er,Pr:GYSGG crystals 13 , 17 – 19 Now, the xenon lamp-pumped Er:YAP laser has been proved to possess excellent laser performance, whereas the work about the Cr3+, Er3+ co-doped YAP crystal and laser needs to be promoted further.…”