Comparative laser and spectroscopic properties of (1-x)CaF2-(x)SrF2 solid solutions doped with Yb³⁺ ions

The lasing properties of Yb³⁺ based lasers strongly depend on crystal field, symmetry and strength and can be varied by modification of host material properties. Yb-doped CaF₂-SrF₂ crystal is a relatively new laser material. The advantage of the CaF₂:Yb³⁺ crystal is broad (~30 nm) fluorescence spectrum, allowing to obtain tuning of the oscillating wavelength within 1.035-1.050 mum spectral range, rather low pump saturation intensity of 14 kW/cm² and long Yb³⁺ lifetime of 2.4 ms. These features are important for development of broadly tunable LD pumped laser sources as well as for the femtosecond pulses generation and amplification.