A YAlO/sub 3/:Er/sup 3 +/ crystal was pumped by radiation from a xenon lamp and the spectral composition of cascade stimulated emission studied. Measurements were made at 110 and 300 /sup 0/K. (AIP)
Stimulated emission was obtained from Tu 3+ ions in YAlO 3 crystals doped with 1.0 at. % Tu and 0.1 at. % Cr. The stimulated radiation was generated by the 3 F 4 → 3 H 5 (λ 1 )→ 3 H 5 → 3 H 6 (λ 2 ) cascade at wavelengths λ 1 = 2.34 μ and λ 1 =1.93 μ and the threshold was 3.5 J/cm at 90 °K. A scheme of radiative and nonradiative transitions between the terms was constructed. The absorption and luminescence spectra recorded at 4.2 °K were used to derive the Stark splitting scheme of the 3 H 4 and 3 H 6 terms of the thulium ion.
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 .