Excited-state absorption of Er3+ in the Ca2Al2SiO7 laser crystal

The excited-state absorption (ESA) and stimulated-emission (SE) of the Er3+ ion in the crystal Ca2Al2SiO7 have been measured between 425 and 1800 nm. The measurements were performed by a continuous wave pump and probe technique. The calibrated ESA and SE cross-sections spectra are presented and the incidence of ESA on the laser performance around 1.55 mu m (transition I-4(13/2) --> I-4(15/2)) is discussed. Finally, the Judd-Ofelt analysis, usually applied from the ground-state manifold, is used to estimate the ESA-integrated cross-sections and this formalism is found to be reliable in its predictions with an accuracy of about 20%. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.