Growth and spectroscopic investigations of a new laser crystal Yb3+-doped Na2Gd4 (MoO4)7

Abstract The 5 at.% Yb 3+ :Na 2 Gd 4 (MoO 4 ) 7 crystal has been grown by the Czochralski method. The polarized spectra and laser parameters, including absorption cross-section, emission cross-section and gain cross-section are reported. The strong absorption peak of both σ -polarization and π -polarization spectra is centered at 976 nm, which is beneficial for the AlGaAs LD pumping. Both have the FWHM of 58 nm and their absorption coefficients are 4.03 cm −1 and 5.69 cm −1 , respectively. The emission cross-section is 2.1 × 10 −20 cm 2 at 1010 nm wavelength. The radiative lifetime and fluorescence decay lifetime of 2 F 5/2 – 2 F 7/2 are 498 μs and 522 μs, respectively. The gain emission cross-section is also evaluated. The research result shows that this crystal might be promising for both tunable and femtosecond laser applications.