4:15 PM - 4:30 PM
▼ [20p-E203-10] Laser performances of Nd,Y:CaF2 and Nd,La:CaF2 ceramics
Keywords:ceramic laser, Nd:CaF2
CaF2 is a promising host material especially for Ln3+-activated ultrafast lasers. Despite the fact that Nd3+-activated CaF2 single-crystal lasers and CaF2 ceramic lasers activated by other Ln3+ ions have been well studied, laser operation of Nd3+-activated CaF2 ceramics has not been reported to date. Synthesizing a ceramic material with a proper composition and enough good optical quality is critical to this subject.
Recently we demonstrated Nd3+-activated CaF2 ceramic lasers for the first time, using two ceramic gain materials, 1%Nd,1.8%Y:CaF2 and 1%Nd,2%La:CaF2. They were fabricated by reactive sintering and hot isostatic pressing method. Optical microscopic analysis indicated no noticeable residual pores on the surface and good optical isotropy inside the materials. The transmittance at 1064 nm of Nd,Y:CaF2 and Nd,La:CaF2 were measured to be 90% and 91%, respectively. These values are superior to the reported values of a 2-mm-thick 5% Nd:CaF2 ceramic (~88%) and a 2-mm-thick 1% Nd, 1%La:CaF2 ceramic (~88%). The fluorescence lifetimes of these two ceramics were measured to be around 220 μs, which are comparable to that of a 1%Nd, 2%Y:CaF2 single crystal (208 μs). Preliminary laser experiments were carried out under quasi-cw pumping at ca. 791 nm. The slope efficiencies were found to be 1.0% and 1.9% for the Nd,Y:CaF2 and Nd,La:CaF2 ceramic lasers, respectively. The lasing wavelengths were measured to be 1064 nm for Nd,Y:CaF2 and 1065 nm for Nd,La:CaF2, which correspond to the peak wavelengths of the emission cross-section spectra. Works on enhancing the efficiency of these ceramic lasers are in progress. The detailed synthesis methodology, spectroscopic properties, and laser performances will be reported in the conference.
Recently we demonstrated Nd3+-activated CaF2 ceramic lasers for the first time, using two ceramic gain materials, 1%Nd,1.8%Y:CaF2 and 1%Nd,2%La:CaF2. They were fabricated by reactive sintering and hot isostatic pressing method. Optical microscopic analysis indicated no noticeable residual pores on the surface and good optical isotropy inside the materials. The transmittance at 1064 nm of Nd,Y:CaF2 and Nd,La:CaF2 were measured to be 90% and 91%, respectively. These values are superior to the reported values of a 2-mm-thick 5% Nd:CaF2 ceramic (~88%) and a 2-mm-thick 1% Nd, 1%La:CaF2 ceramic (~88%). The fluorescence lifetimes of these two ceramics were measured to be around 220 μs, which are comparable to that of a 1%Nd, 2%Y:CaF2 single crystal (208 μs). Preliminary laser experiments were carried out under quasi-cw pumping at ca. 791 nm. The slope efficiencies were found to be 1.0% and 1.9% for the Nd,Y:CaF2 and Nd,La:CaF2 ceramic lasers, respectively. The lasing wavelengths were measured to be 1064 nm for Nd,Y:CaF2 and 1065 nm for Nd,La:CaF2, which correspond to the peak wavelengths of the emission cross-section spectra. Works on enhancing the efficiency of these ceramic lasers are in progress. The detailed synthesis methodology, spectroscopic properties, and laser performances will be reported in the conference.