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Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics

Stimulated emission from Er3+ions in yttrium aluminum garnet crystals at λ = 2.94 μ

Evgeny V. Zharikov, V I Zhekov, L. A. Kulevskiǐ, T. M. Murina, Vyacheslav V Osiko, A M Prokhorov, A D Savel'ev, Valery V Smirnov, B P Starikov, M. I. Timoshechkin

Published Aug 31, 1975• 107 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Stimulated emission due to the 4 I 11/2 – 4 I 13/2 transition (λ = 2.936 μ) in yttrium aluminum garnet (Y 3 Al 5 O 12 ) doped with Er 3+ ions (30 wt%) was observed for the first time at 300°K. The output energy from crystals of 50 × 3 mm dimensions was 0.3 J under free-oscillation conditions and 0.05 J in the case of Q switching. The lifetime of the 4 I 11/2 level was determined for crystals with 3–30 wt% Er 3+ . The energy from the higher Er 3+ levels relaxed in a cascade manner through 4 I 11/2 to 4 I 13/2 .

DOI
10.1070/qe1975v004n08abeh011147

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Enhanced absorption by stimulated emission in three excited states of Er3+ in yttrium aluminum garnet

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An investigation was made of the kinetics of the luminescence due to 4 I 11/2 → 4 I 15/2 and 4 I 13/2 → 4 I 15/2 transitions in the Er 3+ ion in yttrium erbium aluminum garnet crystals subjected to strong resonant excitation argon laser radiation (λ = 4880 nm). The efficiency of the cooperative process resulting in nonlinear quenching of the luminescence from the 4 I 13/2 level and sensitization of the 4 I 11/2 level was estimated. The influence of this process on the kinetics of lasing as a result of the 4 I 11/2 → 4 I 13/2 transition (λ = 2.94 μ) was analyzed.

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Mechanism of a population inversion between the4I11/2and4I13/2levels of the Er3+ion in Y3AI5O12crystals

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Studies of the spectra of stimulated emission from Y 3 AI 5 O 12 :Er 3+ crystals ( 4 I 11/2 – 4 I 13/2 ) containing 20 wt. % activator ions, showed that, as the temperature decreased from 300 to 77°K, a change was observed in the emission wavelength (at T = 300°K it was found that λ 1 = 2.9364 μ λ 2 = 2.8310 μ and at T = 77°K it was found that λ 1 = 2.6930 μ , λ 2 = 2.8970 μ ). This could not be attributed to a thermal redistribution of the populations of the Stark components of the 4 I 11/2 and 4 I 13/2 upper and lower active levels. An analysis of the results showed that the temperature shift of the stimulated emission spectrum was due to changes in the processes of relaxation of excitation from the upper levels of the Er 3+ ion which caused substantial changes in the populations of the 4 I 11/2 and 4 I 13/2 multiplets.

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Investigation of Non-linear Energy Transfer Dynamics of Erbium in Yttrium Aluminum Garnet

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Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG, Y_3 〖Al〗_5 O_12) crystals doped with Erbium have posed an interesting position in the field of rare earth solid state lasers as they possess the property of self-saturation, in which the upper energy level in a laser has a much shorter lifetime than that of the lower level. This is the case of the 2.94μm transition in Er:YAG. That property at first seems to make this material unfit for use as a laser gain medium, however further research into these classes of rare earth materials revealed interesting non-liner energy transfer mechanisms that allow it to be a useful mid wave infra-red (MWIR) coherent source in the continuous wave (CW) and pulsed regimes. This came to fruition due to decades of modeling and spectroscopic research investigating the non-linear energy transfer mechanisms of excited state absorption (ESA), energy transfer up-conversion (ETU), and cross relaxation (XR). These effects show up in the rise and fall times of the levels observed through fluorescence. Resulting in the non-exponential rise and fall characteristics and having a squared or even cubed relation to the population. The population evolution for each of the lasing levels is now affected by ions recycling energy and in turn cause the lifetimes of the levels to “effectively” change to a point where simple linear models do not adequately describe the system and its performance. The non-linear energy transfer dynamics of Er:YAG are modeled under high resonant pump conditions. By pumping with selective resonant pumps, the interaction dynamics of the (_ ^4)I_(11/2) and the (_ ^4)I_(13/2) levels in the Erbium ion reveal the contributions from generally ignored non-linear energy transfer mechanisms. Specifically, the multi-photon effect known as excited state absorption (ESA) is modeled by measuring and characterizing the cross section in single crystal Er:YAG samples utilizing a pump and probe technique coupled with transient fluorescence measurements. The measured ESA cross section is then included in the rate equation modeling.

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Spectroscopic characteristics of the erbium ions and laser action at the transition4S3/2 →4I9/2 (λe ≍ 1.66 μm) in the crystals of gadolinium, yttrium, and lutecium orthoaluminates

I. V. Mochalov

The Czochralski method is employed to synthesize crystals of compound orthoaluminates: GdAlO3, YAlO3, and LuAlO3 doped with erbium (Er3+). The crystal splitting schemes of 4S3/2, 4F9/2, 4IJ levels of Er3+ at 77 K are plotted based on an analysis of optical spectra. Stimulated emission due to a 4S3/2 → 4I9/2 transition is observed from Er3+ ions GdAlO3, YAlO3 at 77 K. Pulsed laser action at room temperature is only observed from Er3+ ions in YAlO3.

physica status solidi (a)•Sep 16, 1979•7 citations
Stimulated emission due to the 4 I 11/2 – 4 I 13/2 transition (λ = 2.936 μ) in yttrium aluminum garnet (Y 3 Al 5 O 12 ) doped with Er 3+ ions (30 wt%) was observed for the first time at 300°K. The output energy from crystals of 50 × 3 mm dimensions was 0.3 J under free-oscillation conditions and 0.05 J in the case of Q switching. The lifetime of the 4 I 11/2 level was determined for crystals with 3–30 wt% Er 3+ . The energy from the higher Er 3+ levels relaxed in a cascade manner through 4 I 11/2 to 4 I 13/2 .
Using a laser diode modulated at 250 and 500 MHz, dependence of enhanced absorption on both sample length and temperature was investigated in an erbium doped yttrium aluminum garnet crystal. The transmitted laser intensity decreased with a decay time of 300 ps for sample lengths greater than 3.0 mm and temperatures higher than 50 K when the incident laser intensity increased. In addition, an emission peak was observed near 835 nm corresponding to the transition from the S3/24 level to the I13/24 in Er3+. It was suggested that the enhanced absorption was caused by stimulated emission in three excited states.
An investigation was made of the kinetics of the luminescence due to 4 I 11/2 → 4 I 15/2 and 4 I 13/2 → 4 I 15/2 transitions in the Er 3+ ion in yttrium erbium aluminum garnet crystals subjected to strong resonant excitation argon laser radiation (λ = 4880 nm). The efficiency of the cooperative process resulting in nonlinear quenching of the luminescence from the 4 I 13/2 level and sensitization of the 4 I 11/2 level was estimated. The influence of this process on the kinetics of lasing as a result of the 4 I 11/2 → 4 I 13/2 transition (λ = 2.94 μ) was analyzed.
Studies of the spectra of stimulated emission from Y 3 AI 5 O 12 :Er 3+ crystals ( 4 I 11/2 – 4 I 13/2 ) containing 20 wt. % activator ions, showed that, as the temperature decreased from 300 to 77°K, a change was observed in the emission wavelength (at T = 300°K it was found that λ 1 = 2.9364 μ λ 2 = 2.8310 μ and at T = 77°K it was found that λ 1 = 2.6930 μ , λ 2 = 2.8970 μ ). This could not be attributed to a thermal redistribution of the populations of the Stark components of the 4 I 11/2 and 4 I 13/2 upper and lower active levels. An analysis of the results showed that the temperature shift of the stimulated emission spectrum was due to changes in the processes of relaxation of excitation from the upper levels of the Er 3+ ion which caused substantial changes in the populations of the 4 I 11/2 and 4 I 13/2 multiplets.
Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG, Y_3 〖Al〗_5 O_12) crystals doped with Erbium have posed an interesting position in the field of rare earth solid state lasers as they possess the property of self-saturation, in which the upper energy level in a laser has a much shorter lifetime than that of the lower level. This is the case of the 2.94μm transition in Er:YAG. That property at first seems to make this material unfit for use as a laser gain medium, however further research into these classes of rare earth materials revealed interesting non-liner energy transfer mechanisms that allow it to be a useful mid wave infra-red (MWIR) coherent source in the continuous wave (CW) and pulsed regimes. This came to fruition due to decades of modeling and spectroscopic research investigating the non-linear energy transfer mechanisms of excited state absorption (ESA), energy transfer up-conversion (ETU), and cross relaxation (XR). These effects show up in the rise and fall times of the levels observed through fluorescence. Resulting in the non-exponential rise and fall characteristics and having a squared or even cubed relation to the population. The population evolution for each of the lasing levels is now affected by ions recycling energy and in turn cause the lifetimes of the levels to “effectively” change to a point where simple linear models do not adequately describe the system and its performance. The non-linear energy transfer dynamics of Er:YAG are modeled under high resonant pump conditions. By pumping with selective resonant pumps, the interaction dynamics of the (_ ^4)I_(11/2) and the (_ ^4)I_(13/2) levels in the Erbium ion reveal the contributions from generally ignored non-linear energy transfer mechanisms. Specifically, the multi-photon effect known as excited state absorption (ESA) is modeled by measuring and characterizing the cross section in single crystal Er:YAG samples utilizing a pump and probe technique coupled with transient fluorescence measurements. The measured ESA cross section is then included in the rate equation modeling.