Fabrication, optical properties and LD-pumped 2.7 μm laser performance of low Er3+ concentration doped Lu2O3 transparent ceramics

•High-quality transparent Er:Lu2O3 ceramics were fabricated by using hot isostatic pressing.•The in-line transmittance at 600 nm and 1300 nm were about 80% and 83%, respectively.•Room temperature CW laser operation of diode pumped 3 at.% Er:Lu2O3 ceramic laser at 2.7 μm was demonstrated.

Transparent Er:Lu2O3 ceramics were fabricated by the solid-state reaction method and vacuum sintering followed by hot isostatic pressing. The micrograph of the Er:Lu2O3 transparent ceramics exhibited a pore-free structure with the average grain size of ∼2 μm. The in-line transmittance at 600 nm and 1300 nm were about 80% and 83%, respectively. The absorption, emission spectra and the decay lifetimes of Er:Lu2O3 ceramics were investigated. The 3 at.% Er:Lu2O3 ceramics were pumped by 967 nm InGaAs laser diodes. A maximum output power of 189 mW at 2.7 μm was obtained with a corresponding slope efficiency of 2.16%.