Spectroscopic, Thermal, and Laser Properties of Yb:CaNb$_{2}$O$_{6}$ Crystal

Abstract

<para xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> In this paper, we report the room temperature spectroscopic and thermal properties and continuous-wave (CW) laser operation of a new <formula formulatype="inline"> <tex Notation="TeX">${\hbox {Yb}}{:}{\hbox{CaNb}}_{2}{\hbox{O}}_{6}$</tex> </formula> crystal. The peak absorption cross section for the <formula formulatype="inline"> <tex Notation="TeX">${\rm E}\Vert{\rm a}$</tex></formula> polarization is <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$0.97\times 10^{-20}\ {\hbox {cm}}^{2}$</tex> </formula> with a full-width at half-maximum of 28 nm at 975 nm. The stimulated emission cross section is <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$1.19\times 10^{-20}\ {\hbox {cm}}^{2}$</tex></formula> at 1062 nm. The thermal conductivities at room temperature are 5.40, 5.15, and 6.05 <formula formulatype="inline"> <tex Notation="TeX">${\rm Wm}^{-1}{\rm K}^{-1}$</tex></formula> along the <emphasis emphasistype="italic">a</emphasis>-, <emphasis emphasistype="italic">b</emphasis>-, and <emphasis emphasistype="italic">c</emphasis>-axis, respectively. The fracture strength of <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">${\hbox {Yb}}{:}{\hbox{CaNb}}_{2}{\hbox{O}}_{6}$</tex> </formula> single crystal is 315 MPa. The properties of <formula formulatype="inline"> <tex Notation="TeX">${\hbox {Yb}}{:}{\hbox{CaNb}}_{2}{\hbox{O}}_{6}$</tex> </formula> crystal were compared with those of typical Yb-doped materials. A CW output power of 801 mW at 1062 nm was obtained with a slope efficiency of 19% by use of diode pumping. </para>