Yb:CaF2 - a new old laser crystal


Yb:CaF2 - a new old laser crystal

Siebold, M.; Bock, S.; Schramm, U.; Xu, B.; Doualan, J. L.; Camy, P.; Moncorgé, R.

Here is presented and discussed the history, the spectroscopic, the thermo-mechanical and the laser properties of the new old laser crystal Yb:CaF2, of its Sr and Ba isotypes as well as of an Yb and Na codoped compound. It will be shown that Yb:CaF2 is a very particular luminescent material, in which the laser active center probably consists of a complex hexameric cluster, that it is the most promising Yb doped °uoride material for large scale high power and high energy laser systems and that it can compete in several aspects with the currently used Yb doped oxide crystals and glasses. The opportunity of operating the crystals at cryogenic temperatures and the recently achieved improvements in the¯eld of femtosecond pulsed laser operation and high peak power laser amplication is highlighted and evaluated.

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-12683
Publ.-Id: 12683