Growth and spectral properties of Yb:FAP single crystal

In this paper, single crystal of ytterbium (Yb) doped Ca5(PO4)3F (FAP) has been grown along the c-axis by using the Czochralski method. The segregation coefficients of Yb3+ in the Yb:FAP crystal has been determined by ICP-AES method. The absorption spectrum, fluorescence spectrum and fluorescence lifetime of the Yb:FAP crystal has been also measured at room temperature. In the absorption spectra, there are two absorption bands at 904 and 982 nm, respectively, which are suitable for InGaAs diode laser pumping. The absorption cross-section (σabs) is 5.117 × 10−20 cm2 with an FWHM of 4 nm at 982 nm. The emission cross-section (σem) is 3.678 × 10−20 cm2 at 1042 nm. Favorable values of the absorption cross-section at about 982 nm are promising candidates for laser diode (LD) pumping.