Growth and spectroscopic characterization of Er3+: Sr3Y(BO3)3 crystal

This paper reports the growth and spectroscopic characterization of Er3+:Sr3Y(BO3)3 crystal. Er3+:Sr3Y(BO3)3 crystal with dimensions up to ∅20×35 mm3 has been grown by Czochralski method. The polarized spectroscopic properties of Er3+:Sr3Y(BO3)3 crystal were investigated. Based on the Judd-Ofelt theory, the effective intensity parameters Ωt were obtained: Ω2=1.71×10−20 cm2, Ω4=1.39×10−20 cm2, Ω6=0.74×10−20 cm2 for π-polarization, and Ω2=1.77×10−20 cm2, Ω4=1.44×10−20 cm2, Ω6=0.65×10−20 cm2 for σ-polarization. The emission cross-section σem was calculated to be 4.75×10−21 cm2 for π-polarization at 1536 nm and 6.30×10−21 cm2 for σ-polarization at 1537 nm. The investigated results showed that Er3+:Sr3Y(BO3)3 crystal may be regarded as a potential laser host material for 1.55 μm IR solid-state lasers.