Spectral and luminescence properties of Cr4+ and Yb3+ ions in yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG)

Abstract In this paper, the spectral and luminescence properties of (Cr,Yb):YAG crystal, Yb:YAG crystal and Cr:YAG crystal are reported. In the absorption spectra of (Cr,Yb):YAG crystal, there are two absorption bands at 937 and 968 nm, respectively, which are suitable for InGaAs diode laser pumping; and there is an absorption band of Cr 4+ near 1030 nm, which is suitable for passive Q switch laser output at 1.03 μm. The luminescent spectra of (Cr,Yb):YAG and Yb:YAG show that the luminescent center of (Cr,Yb):YAG is at 1029 nm, but the intensity is lower than Yb:YAG. The luminescent lifetimes of (Cr,Yb):YAG and Yb:YAG are 0.3 and 1.4 ms, respectively. This Cr–Yb-codoped crystal is a potential material for a compact, efficient, highly stable, diode laser pumped, passive Q-switched solid-state laser.