Recently, a research group from Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM), Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS) had made new achievements that demonstrated thermal, optical, and laser properties of Yb:GdScO₃ for potentially efficient ultrashort pulse lasers. Related research results have been published in Optics Letters on Aug 1, 2021.

In recent years, laser diode (LD) pumped rare-earth ion Yb³⁺ doped all-solid femtosecond (fs) lasers have attracted much attention. Having a broad emission spectrum, Yb³⁺-doped materials like Yb:CaGdAlO₄ and Yb:Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂ are increasingly becoming a strong competitor for ultrashort pulse lasers. This research reveals Yb:GdScO₃ is a promising candidate for ultrashort pulse lasers.

The crystal was grown by the Czochralski method with a doping concentration of 3 at.% and a diameter of 40 mm. Thermal experiments show that the crystal has good thermal properties. The thermal conductivity of the a-axis and c-axis crystal are 5.33 W/(m·K) and 5.54 W/(m·K) at 50 ℃.

Room temperature polarization absorption spectrum and fluorescence spectrum were shown in Fig.1. The maximum absorption cross section is 0.70×10^-20 cm² at 961 nm (E//c) with the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 80 nm. The stimulated emission cross-section at 1025nm (E//c) is 0.46×10^-20 cm² with the FWHM of 85 nm. Continuous-wave regime laser obtained the maximum output power of 13.45 W at 1063.9 nm with the optical efficiency of 63.3%.

Relevant research was supported by National Key R&D Program of China; Talents project of Shanghai Institute of Optics and fine Mechanics.

Figure 1 Room temperature polarization absorption spectrum of Yb:GdScO₃ crystal(left) and fluorescence spectrum of Yb:GdScO₃ crystal(right). (Image by SIOM)

Article website:
https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.431243

Contact:
WU Xiufeng
General Administrative Office
Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, CAS
Email: xfwu@siom.ac.cn
Web: http://english.siom.cas.cn/