Spectroscopic investigation and mid-infrared luminescence properties of the Pr3+-doped low phonon single crystals CsCdBr3, KpB2Cl5 and Tl3PbBr5

The low phonon materials KPb2Cl5, CsCdBr3 and Tl3PbBr5 were successfully grown by using the Bridgman–Stockbarger method. These crystals were stable, homogeneous, no moisture sensitive and could be doped with Pr3+ ions. Spectroscopic properties of the 3H5 → 3H4 Pr3+ transition have been investigated for the three low phonon materials. Absorption and emission cross sections of this transition around 3.8–5.5 µm are broad and present high peak values. Furthermore, gain cross sections derived from these measurements could be positive for small population inversion ratio. Finally, the performance of a continuous wave Pr-doped low phonon single-crystal laser operating on this transition is studied using numerical modelling. By this way it was possible to demonstrate that compact solid- state laser systems could be achieved via quantum-cascade laser (QCL) pumping

[1]  Martin Nikl,et al.  Ternary alkali lead chlorides: Crystal growth, crystal structure, absorption and emission properties , 1995 .

[2]  S. Trivedi,et al.  Energy transfer processes in doubly doped Yb, Pr:KPb2Cl5 for mid-infrared laser applications , 2008 .

[3]  J. Chaminade,et al.  Growth and thermodynamic characterization of pure and Er-doped KPb2Cl5 , 2006 .

[4]  Manijeh Razeghi,et al.  Room temperature continuous wave operation of quantum cascade lasers with 12.5% wall plug efficiency , 2008 .

[5]  W. Rigrod.  Saturation Effects in High‐Gain Lasers , 1965 .

[6]  F. Gourbilleau,et al.  Modelling of Yb-doped planar waveguides grown by rf-sputtering for laser emission at around 980 nm , 2006 .

[7]  Lloyd L. Chase,et al.  Infrared cross-section measurements for crystals doped with Er/sup 3+/, Tm/sup 3+/, and Ho/sup 3+/ , 1992 .

[8]  Joseph Ganem,et al.  Infrared laser characteristics of praseodymium-doped lanthanum trichloride , 1994 .

[9]  R. Moncorgé,et al.  Midinfrared luminescence properties and laser potentials of Pr3+ doped KPb2Cl5 and CsCdBr3 , 2008 .

[10]  J. Chaminade,et al.  A Cationic Order-Disorder Phase Transition in KPb2Cl5 , 2006 .

[11]  R. Balda,et al.  Crystal growth of rare-earth-doped ternary potassium lead chloride single crystals by the Bridgman method , 2004 .

[12]  Leslie Brandon Shaw,et al.  A 7-/spl mu/m praseodymium-based solid-state laser , 1996 .

[13]  X. Portier,et al.  Tl3PbBr5: A possible crystal candidate for middle infrared nonlinear optics , 2006 .