Spectroscopic properties of Er3+-doped α-Al2O3

Abstract We present the results of comprehensive spectroscopic study of the recently successfully synthesized nanopowders and fully densified transparent ceramics of Er 3+ -doped α-Al 2 O 3 (corundum). Fluorescence and excitation spectra in a range of temperatures of 10–300 K were used to infer the energy level schemes of the ground state and the first three excited Er 3+ multiplets ( 4 I 15/2 , 4 I 13/2 , 4 I 11/2 , and 4 I 9/2 ) in this material. Obtained experimental data also allowed us to assess this material as a potential gain medium for high power laser applications in anticipation that it becomes available in the low-loss grain-aligned ceramic or single crystalline form in the near future.