Optical study of erbium-doped La 3 Ga 5.5 Ta 0.5 O 14 single crystal.

Single crystals of erbium-doped La 3 Ga 5.5 Ta 0.5 O 14 , grown by the Czochralski method, have been investigated using methods of optical spectroscopy. Room-temperature absorption spectra were analysed in the framework of the Judd-Ofelt theory. Radiative transition rates, radiative lifetimes and luminescence branching ratios for luminescent levels of Er 3+ have been evaluated and compared to measured luminescence intensities and lifetimes. The laser potential associated with the 4 I 13/2 - 4 I 15/2 transition near 1.55 μm has been assessed. It has been concluded that La 3 Ga 5.5 Ta 0.5 O 14 :Er crystal is an intermediate gain laser material exhibiting strong inhomogeneous broadening of absorption bands, advantageous for optical pumping with laser diodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]