Abstract

The goal of this work was an investigation of the temperature influence (80-300 K) on laser properties of thulium doped CaF₂, co-doped by yttrium (Tm,Y:CaF₂), which could serve as gain medium for generation of radiation at 1.8–2 µm. CaF₂ single crystal and ceramic belong to promising laser hosts.[1, 2] Its doping by trivalent ions, like Tm³⁺, leads to forming of complex structures necessary for charge-compensation.[3] The variety of these centers broaden the absorption and emission spectra, which is favorable to diode pumping and laser tunability. Co-doping by optically inactive Y³⁺ ions could further increase the variety of optical centers without negative effect of upper laser level concentration quenching. Here we report the first results obtained with Tm,Y:CaF₂.

© 2017 IEEE