Spectroscopic Properties and Laser Oscillation of Yb:Er:Ca2Al2SiO7 in the 1.55 µm eye-safe range

This paper reviews our work on the Yb:Er:Cla2Al2SiO7 (CAS) laser material. Absorption and emission properties are reported. A high value of the Yb → Er energy transfer rate (6x10^-16 cm³s-1) is favourable to the broad Er3+ near infrared emission. Room temperature laser oscillations at 1.55 µm are obtained under Ti:Sapphire excitation. First results indicate a threshold around 90 mW and a 2.7 % slope effciency (with R_out=97%).