Enhanced 2.7 μm continuous-wave emission of Er,Pr:Lu2O3 crystal

Abstract The high optical quality Er:Lu2O3 and Er,Pr:Lu2O3 crystals were grown by Floating zone method. The spectral properties of Er:Lu2O3 and Er,Pr:Lu2O3 crystals were investigated. After co-doping small concentration of Pr3+, the depopulated influence of Pr3+ to the NIR emission was much stronger than the MIR emission. The near-infrared and up-conversion fluorescence were significantly quenched. Moreover, the fluorescence lifetime of 4I13/2 abviously decreases from 4.02 ms to 1.71 ms in 7% Er, 0.05% Pr: Lu2O3 crystal, and the lifetime ratio is 1.63 with large fluorescence lifetime of 4I11/2 which is desirable lifetime ratio in these crystals. Thus, the spectral performance was significantly improved by co-doping 0.05 at.% of Pr3+. The high laser performance at 2.7 μm of 7% Er, 0.05% Pr: Lu2O3 crystal is expectable.