Effect of Yb3+ concentration on optical properties of Yb:CaF2 transparent ceramics

Sandrine Ricaud (1) , Andreas Lyberis (2) , Adam Stevenson (2) , Akiko Suganuma (2) , Frédéric Druon (1) , Fréderic Herbst (3) , Daniel Vivien (2) , Patrick Gredin (4) , Michel Mortier (4)

1 Laboratoire Charles Fabry / Lasers
2 LCMCP (site ENSCP) - Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris (site ENSCP)
3 ITODYS (UMR_7086) - Interfaces, Traitements, Organisation et Dynamique des Systèmes
4 LCMCP (site Paris VI) - Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris (site Paris VI)

In Yb:CaF2, the coordination of Yb3+ in the CaF2 lattice determines the spectroscopic properties that make Yb:CaF2 a good candidate for high power laser applications. In this work, we measure the optical absorption, emission, and fluorescence lifetime of 0.1, 1, 5, and 10 at% Yb:CaF2 ceramics to determine whether Yb3+ substitutes as hexamer clusters giving rise to the tenability and long fluorescent lifetime observed in Yb:CaF2 single crystals. Absorption and emission spectra show that the concentration of Yb3+ present in hexamer clusters, as opposed to isolated ions, increases with increasing Yb3+ content. Fluorescence lifetime also increases with increasing Yb3+ content. Laser testing on a 1 at% Yb:CaF2 transparent ceramic demonstrates that these materials are viable laser gain media.

Domains: Optics [physics.optics]

Sandrine Ricaud, Andreas Lyberis, Adam Stevenson, Akiko Suganuma, Frédéric Druon, et al.. Effect of Yb3+ concentration on optical properties of Yb:CaF2 transparent ceramics. Optical Materials, 2012, 34 (6), pp.965-968. ⟨10.1016/j.optmat.2011.05.036⟩. ⟨hal-00756835⟩