Room temperature CW laser efficiency of Yb3+-Er3+ and Tm3+ doped silicates in the infrared region

This paper reports the main spectroscopic characterizations and laser experiments carried out on two new crystal hosts: the yttrium orthosilicate Y2SiO5 and the silicate oxyapatite Sr2Y8(SiO4)6O2 (hereafter noted SYS), doped with Ytterbium and Erbium for a 1,55 μm laser emission and with Thulium for a 2 μm emission. Four new laser lines have been demonstrated at 1,554 μm, 1,576 μm, 1,99 μm and 2,05 μm for respectively Yb,Er:SYS; Yb,Er:Y2SiO5; Tm:SYS and Tm:Y2SiO5. If for the Yb,Er codoped materials laser performances are still poor compared with the Yb,Er phosphate glass, the Tm doped materials exhibit laser performances similar to the Tm:YAG and look very promising. (authors). 7 refs., 4 figs., 4 tabs