Polarized spectral properties of Sm:CaGdAlO4 crystal for reddish-orange laser

• Published in: Optical materials Vol. 69; pp. 333 - 338
• Main Authors: Xu, Xiaodong, Hu, Zongwen, Li, Ruijuan, Li, Dongzhen, Di, Juqing, Su, Liangbi, Yang, Qiuhong, Sai, Qinglin, Tang, Huili, Wang, Qingguo, Strzęp, Adam, Xu, Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-07-2017
• Subjects: Floating zone method; Reddish-orange laser; Sm:CaGdAlO4; Sm:CaGdAlO4; Floating zone method; Reddish-orange laser
• ISSN: 0925-3467; 1873-1252
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2017.04.046

The crystal growth, polarized spectral properties, Judd-Ofelt (JO) analysis and lifetime of Sm:CaGdAlO4 (Sm:CGA) crystal were reported for the first time. Sm:CGA crystal with size of Φ4 × 33 mm3 was grown by the floating zone (FZ) method. The peak absorption cross-sections at 407 nm were calculated to be 3.41 × 10−20cm2 and 3.20 × 10−20cm2 for the σ and π polarization, and the largest stimulated emission cross-sections at 601 nm were 5.10 × 10−21cm2 and 4.66 × 10−21cm2, respectively. The absorption and emission cross-sections were several times larger than that of Sm:LiYF4. The JO intensity parameters of Ω2, Ω4 and Ω6 were calculated to be 3.0 × 10−20cm2, 6.1 × 10−20cm2 and 6.5 × 10−20cm2, respectively. The lifetime of the 4G5/2 level was obtained to be 0.69 ms. All the results indicate that Sm:CGA crystal is a potential laser host for the reddish-orange laser operation.
•The crystal growth, optical spectra, and JO parameters of Sm:CaGdAlO4 crystal were investigated for the first time.•High value of absorption and emission cross-sections indicate that Sm:CaGdAlO4 crystal is a promising laser candidate.•The transitions of 4G5/2 → 6H7/2 have the highest branching ratio value, which is suitable for reddish-orange laser.