Spectroscopic properties and laser emission of Er3+ in scandium silicates near 1.5 μm

Abstract We have grown Er 3+ - and Er 3+ -, Yb 3+ -doped scandium silicates Sc 2 SiO 5 and Sc 2 Si 2 O 7 by the Czochralski technique and analyzed the spectroscopic properties of these crystals. Crystal data of the host materials, the lifetimes and the Stark level splitting of the Er energy levels as well as laser parameters of samples pumped by a Ti:Al 2 O 3 -laser and InGaAs-laser diodes are presented. Laser oscillation of diode pumped Er,Yb:Sc 2 SiO 5 yielded a slope efficiency of 2.4% and a maximum output power of 24 mW.