Spectroscopic and thermal characterizations of Yb:LaF3 single crystal

A Yb3+ doped LaF3 laser crystal was detailed investigated by both spectroscopic and thermal measurements. A peak absorption at 974 nm with FWHM broader than 60 nm makes the crystal suitable to InGaAs LDs. Fluorescence spectrum and calculated spectroscopic parameters show potential of Yb:LaF3 crystal to laser operations around 1009 nm. A relatively long fluorescence lifetime of 2.92 ms was detected for Yb3+:2F5/2 manifold. The thermal diffusivity and specific heat capacity in the range of 300-575 K were studied to calculate the thermal conductivity of Yb:LaF3. The results indicate that the Yb:LaF3 crystal is a good candidate for diode-pumped ∼1 μm solid-state laser applications.