Energy transfer properties of Nd3+→Yb3+ in Nd:Yb:LiNbO3 crystals

• High-quality Nd:Yb:LiNbO3 crystals were grown by Czochralski method.
• Absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, and luminescence decay curves of Nd:Yb:LiNbO3 crystals were obtained.
• Energy transfer was investigated based on emission spectra and luminescence decay curves.
• Energy transfer efficiency of 86% was obtained in a nominal Nd (0.8 mol%):Yb (2.0 mol%):LiNbO3 crystal.

Nd:Yb:LiNbO3 nonlinear laser crystal is a candidate for NIR laser around 1000 nm and self-frequency-doubling laser around 500 nm, with mature pump technique using ~808-nm diode laser, via Nd3+ absorption and efficient Nd3+→Yb3+ energy transfer. High-quality Nd:Yb:LiNbO3 crystals were grown by Czochralski method, and the main spectroscopic properties of Nd3+→Yb3+ (Nd3+:4F3/2+Yb3+:2F7/2→Nd3+:4I9/2+Yb3+:2F5/2) energy transfer in LiNbO3 crystals were studied systemically based on emission spectra and luminescence decay curves. Energy transfer efficiency as high as 86% was obtained in a Nd3+ (0.8 mol%) and Yb3+ (2.0 mol%) codoped sample, so Nd:Yb:LiNbO3 laser with a higher efficiency than that of Nd:LiNbO3 laser might be achieved under identical pump conditions.