Measurement of non-equilibrium carriers dynamics in Ce-doped YAG, LuAG and GAGG crystals with and without Mg-codoping

Abstract Non-linear absorption spectroscopy in pump and probe configuration has been used to test the population of non-equilibrium carriers in Ce-doped Y 3 Al 5 O 12 (YAG), Lu 3 Al 5 O 12 (LuAG), and Gd 3 Al x Ga (5- x ) O 12 (GAGG) crystals with and without codoping by Mg 2+ ions. A faster rise time of the induced optical density has been observed in all crystals codoped with Mg with respect to that in Mg-free samples. A significant difference in the time evolution of the differential optical density in GAGG with respect to YAG and LuAG crystals has also been measured. In both GAGG:Ce and GAGG:Ce,Mg an absorption band with maximum in the blue-green range and a decay time of 1.4 ps is present. This band is due to the absorption by free electrons before they are trapped or re-captured by Ce 3+ ions. A broad absorption band in the yellow-red region with very short rise time and a decay time longer than 150 ps has been observed in all the Ce-doped garnets under study and can be attributed to the absorption from the Ce 3+ excited states.