Orthorombic Yb:Li2Zn2(MoO4)(3)-a novel potential crystal for broadly tunable lasers

Identifier:  imarina:6016197

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina6016197

Authors:  Kurilchik, Sergei; Loiko, Pavel; Yasukevich, Anatol; Trifonov, Vyacheslav; Volokitina, Anna; Vilejshikova, Elena; Kisel, Viktor; Mateos, Xavier; Baranov, Alexander; Goriev, Oleg; Kuleshov, Nikolay; Pavlyuk, Anatoly

Abstract:
Crystal with composition Li2Zn2(MoO4)(3) doped with 0.7 at.% Yb (Yb:LiZnMo), with high optical quality and a length of a few cm is grown from the flux using Li2MoO4 as a solvent. Yb:LiZnMo is orthorombic (sp. gr. Pnma, a = 5.0843 angstrom, b = 10.4927 angstrom, c = 17.6742 angstrom, Z = 4). Polarized Raman spectra are studied for this crystal; the most intense band is observed at 898 cm(-1). The absorption, stimulated-emission and gain cross-sections of Yb3+ ions are determined for the principal light polarizations, E parallel to a, b, c. The maximum sigma(SE) = 6.6 x 10(-21) cm(2) at 1011 nm for E parallel to b. The gain bandwidth for Yb:LiZnMo is up to similar to 50 nm. The radiative lifetime of the Yb3+ ions is 1.55 ms. The Yb:LiZnMo crystals are very promising for broadly tunable lasers.