Crystal growth, spectroscopic characterization, and laser operation of Tm/Mg: LiTaO3 crystal

Tm, Mg co-doped LiTaO3 crystal is grown by the traditional Czochralski method. By analyzing the absorption and emission measurements of the Tm/Mg: LiTaO3 single crystal with the Judd-Ofelt analysis, the intensity parameters Omega(2,4,6,) transition probabilities, exited state lifetimes, branching ratios, and emission cross-sections were calculated. Non-photorefractive continuous wave laser operation with a Tm/Mg: LiTaO3 single crystal is demonstrated for the first time. We obtained 1.51 W output power at 1.92 mu m with a slope efficiency of near 38.5%, which, to the best of our knowledge, are the largest output power and highest slope efficiency obtained for this crystal thus far. The long-term photorefractive effect was also quantitatively analyzed. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America