LASER AND SPECTROSCOPIC PROPERTIES OF SR-5(PO4)(3)F-YB

Sr-5(PO4)(3)F (S-FAP) has been investigated as a new Yb-doped laser crystal belonging to the apatite structural family. The spectroscopy of the Yb3+ ion and the laser properties of the medium have been investigated. The maximum absorption cross section of Yb in S-FAP is 8.6 x 10(-20) cm(2), and the maximum emission cross section is 7.3 x 10(-20) cm(2). The measured emission lifetime of Yb3+ is 1.26 ms. An Yb:S-FAP laser has been demonstrated with a Ti:sapphire laser pump operating at 899 nn. The Yb:S-FAP laser was measured to have slope efficiencies as high as 71%. The spectroscopy and laser studies are reported, as well as certain thermal, mechanical, and optical properties.