EXCITED-STATE ABSORPTION-SPECTRA AND GAIN MEASUREMENTS OF CAF2-SM-2+

We have measured the pump-probe spectrum for CaF2: Sm2+ over a wide (360-1020 nm) spectral range. We observed gain throughout most of the 730-nm emission band, although there is some evidence of excited-state absorption (ESA) in this region. A much stronger ESA was observed near 500 nm. The temperature dependence of the ESA signal clearly indicates that the absorption is associated with divalent samarium. Because of the width and strength of this transition, we assign the ESA to a 4f(5)5d --> conduction band transition. We calculated the oscillator strength for this ESA band to be 0.10 and rationalized its magnitude based on an intensity-borrowing mechanism that involves the transition from the valence band to the conduction band.