Spectroscopic properties of a novel near-infrared tunable laser material Ni:MgGa2O4

An intense emission band from Ni2+ in MgGa2O4 spinel in the range of 1.1-1.6μm was observed at room temperature. The emission band could be assigned to the downward d-d transition of T2g3→A2g3 of Ni2+ ions in octahedral sites. The lifetime of the emission was more than 1.6 ms from 5 to 300 K. This material has potential as a near-infrared tunable-laser host.