Growth, structure, spectral and laser properties of Yb3+:LaMgB5O10 – a new laser material

Abstract

A bulk crystal of Yb³⁺:LaMgB₅O₁₀ was grown successfully by the top seeded solution growth method for the first time to our knowledge. The detailed crystal structure data was given, revealing that the Yb³⁺:LaMgB₅O₁₀ crystal belongs to the monoclinic system with the space group P2₁/n, and its unit cell parameters are: a = 8.8002 Å, b = 7.6136 Å, c = 9.4900 Å, β = 92.46°, V = 635.3 ų and Z = 4. Investigation of its polarized spectral properties shows that the Yb³⁺:LaMgB₅O₁₀ crystal has broad, strong absorption and emission cross-sections. A continuous wave laser output of 2.76 W with a slope efficiency of 64.5% was obtained; the laser simultaneously oscillated at 1053 and 1057 nm at a pump power of 7.7 W. The results show that the Yb³⁺:LaMgB₅O₁₀ crystal is a promising laser crystal.