Growth and spectral properties of a promising laser crystal Yb3+/Er3+:Ca9La(VO4)7

A new crystal of Er3+/Yb3+:Ca9La(VO4)7 was grown successfully by the Czochralski method. Its spectral properties were investigated in detail. The crystal has a strong absorption band near 980 nm with a full-width at half-maximum of 33 nm, which means that it is very suitable for InGaAs laser diode pumping. Based on the Judd-Ofelt theory, the intensity parameters and radiative lifetime were obtained. The fluorescence lifetime of the 4I13/2 level of the Er3+ ion is 4.28 ms. The emission cross sections of the Er3+ ion at 1533 nm calculated by the Füchtbauer-Ladenburg method are 0.86 × 10−20 cm2 and 1.08 × 10−20 cm2 for σ- and π- polarization, respectively. The results indicate that Er3+/Yb3+:Ca9La(VO4)7 crystal is a potential 1.5-1.6 μm laser material.