Spectroscopic characterizations of Dy:LaF3 crystal

Abstract A Dy:LaF 3 crystal was grown successfully by the Bridgman method, and X-ray diffraction results show that it is well-crystallized. The room temperature absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra and the fluorescence decay curves were measured. On the basis of J-O theory, the emission probabilities, branching ratios, and the radiation lifetimes of the 4 F 9/2 and 6 H 13/2 manifolds were calculated. The stimulated emission cross-sections of the 4 F 9/2  →  6 H 13/2 transition (∼570 nm) and the 6 H 13/2  →  6 H 15/2 transition (∼2.86  μ m ) were obtained by the Fuchtbauer–Ladenburg equation. The fluorescence lifetime of the 4 F 9/2 and 6 H 13/2 manifolds are 1.37 ms and 9.73 ms, respectively. All these results were first investigated, indicating the Dy:LaF 3 crystal a promising material for 570 nm and 2.86  μ m laser applications.