Growth and characterization of Er-doped KPb2Cl5 as laser host crystal

Single crystals of KPb 2 Cl 5 were grown by vertical Bridgman technique from purified and synthesized material doped with Erbium up to a concentration of 5 mol% ErCl 3 . The purification was performed by zone refining at a rate of 3 cm/hr for 30 passes, with a final refining at a rate of 1 mm/hr. Segregation coefficient of Er 3+ ions was found to be ∼0.5 for KPb 2 Cl 5 . The transmission through a 12-mm thick crystal was found to be ∼80%, the mid-infrared and visible up-conversion luminescence spectra are reported.