Continuously tuned (Tm0.05Sc0.252Y0.698)2O3 ceramic laser with emission peak at 2076 nm

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2021-12, Vol.889, p.161585, Article 161585
• Main Authors: Pirri, Angela, Maksimov, Roman N., Shitov, Vladislav A., Osipov, Vladimir V., Sani, Elisa, Patrizi, Barbara, Vannini, Matteo, Toci, Guido
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ablation; Absorption spectra; Absorptivity; Ceramics; Fluorescence; Lasers; Low temperature absorption spectra; Mathematical analysis; Nanoparticles; Optical properties; Room temperature; Thulium lasing properties; Tm-based transparent ceramics; Tm:(ScxY1−x)2O3; Vacuum sintering
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.161585

•Tm doped mixed composition sesquioxide ceramics with broad IR emission spectrum.•Solid-state vacuum sintering from laser-ablated (Tm,Y,Sc)2O3 nanoparticles.•(Tm0.05Sc0.252Y0.698)2O3 laser ceramic with emission peak at 2076 nm.•Broad laser wavelength tuning range spanning from 1927.4 to 2108.5 nm (181 nm). We report on the first laser action of a (Tm0.05Sc0.252Y0.698)2O3 ceramic sample, which was made by solid-state vacuum sintering of laser-ablated mixed sesquioxide nanoparticles. Pumped at 793 nm in quasi-CW mode, it delivers 1.24 W with a slope efficiency of 9.45% at 2076 nm. We have measured the absorption spectra at several temperatures, from 93 K to 293 K, calculating the absorption coefficients by Lambert-Beer formula. Moreover, emission cross sections were calculated by Fuchtbauer-Ladenburg starting from the fluorescence spectra measured at room temperature. Spectroscopic data where compared with those obtained by (Tm0.05Y0.95)2O3 fabricated with the same method. Finally, the ceramic tunability was explored finding a tuning range as broad as 181 nm (from 1927.5 nm to 2108.5 nm).