Polarized spectroscopic properties and continuous-wave laser operation of Yb:Gd2SiO5 crystal

• An Yb3+:Gd2SiO5 single crystal was grown by the Czochralski method.
• Polarized spectroscopic properties of Yb3+:Gd2SiO5 crystal were investigated.
• Diode-pumped continuous-wave laser was demonstrated in Yb3+:Gd2SiO5 crystal.

Yb3+:Gd2SiO5 single crystal with Yb3+ concentration of 6.33 at.% was grown by the Czochralski method. Polarized absorption and fluorescence spectra were measured at room temperature. Intrinsic fluorescence lifetime of the 2F5/2 multiplet was measured to be 0.87 ms when the powder of Yb3+:Gd2SiO5 crystal with low Yb3+ concentration of 0.5 at.% immersed in refractive index-matching fluid was adopted to weaken the influence of radiation trapping and concentration dependent fluorescence quenching. Furthermore, diode-pumped continuous-wave laser around 1090 nm with a slope efficiency of 52% and maximum output power of 1.2 W was demonstrated in the crystal.