Spectroscopic properties of UV active medium Ce3+:LiSr0.8Ca0.2AlF6

• Monocrystalline Ce3+:LiCa0.2Sr0.8AlF6 samples were grown by Bridgman technique.
• Segregation of Ce3+ ions is higher in LiCa0.2Sr0.8AlF6 than that for LiCaAlF6.
• Distribution of impurities could be managed by cation set of the mixed crystal.

The aim of this work is phase composition and near UV spectroscopic studies of UV active media in fluoride crystals with colquiriite structure, such as Ce3+:LiSr0.8Ca0.2AlF6. Colquiriite structure mixed crystals show higher segregation coefficient of Ce3+ activator ions than common LiCaAlF6 hosts. An important result is based on the fact that this enhancement was achieved for two types of Ce3+ centers in a multisite Ce:LiSr0.8Ca0.2AlF6 system. Thus, it provides a higher gain coefficient for the 5d–4f transitions of Ce3+ ions and it spans a wider continuous wavelength tuning range between 280 and 320 nm for tunable Ce:LiSr0.8Ca0.2AlF6 laser systems.