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Timestamp: 2019-04-22 05:11:49+00:00

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An Er:Yb:KGd(PO3)4 crystal doped with 1.83 at.% Er3+ and 3.98 at.% Yb3+ was grown by the top seeded solution method, and polarized spectroscopic properties of the crystal were investigated at room temperature. Fluorescence lifetimes of the 4I11/2 and 4I13/2 multiplets of Er3+ were measured to be about 1.54 μs and 6.32 ms, respectively. Fluorescence quantum efficiency of the 4I13/2 multiplet of Er3+ and energy transfer efficiency from Yb3+ to Er3+ were estimated to be 60% and 62%, respectively. The results indicate that the spectroscopic properties of the Er:Yb:KGd(PO3)4 crystal related to 1.55 μm laser operation are comparable to those of the commercial Er:Yb:phosphate glass and the crystal is a promising gain medium for the eye-safe 1.55 μm laser.
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Fig. 1 Photograph of the Er:Yb:KGP crystal sample.
Fig. 2 (a) RT polarized absorption spectra of the Er:Yb:KGP crystal in a range from 280 to 1700nm. (b) RT polarized absorption cross-section spectra of the Er:Yb:KGP crystal from 900 to 1050 nm.
Fig. 3 (a) RT polarized emission cross-section spectra of the 4I13/2→4I15/2 transition of Er3+ in the Er:Yb:KGP crystal calculated by the F-L formula. (b) Comparison of emission cross-section spectra of the 4I13/2→4I15/2 transition of Er3+ in the Er:Yb:KGP crystal for E//Y polarization calculated by the RM and the F-L formula, respectively.
Fig. 4 Gain curves of the 4I13/2→4I15/2 transition of Er3+ in the Er:Yb:KGP crystal for E//Y polarization with different β.
Table 1 Comparison of some spectroscopic parameters of the Er3+ and Yb3+ co-doped crystals and glass related to the 1.55 μm laser.
Comparison of some spectroscopic parameters of the Er3+ and Yb3+ co-doped crystals and glass related to the 1.55 μm laser.

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