Pr3+-doped Tl3PbBr5: a non-hygroscopic, non-linear and low-energy phonon single crystal for the mid-infrared laser application

• Published in: Applied physics. B, Lasers and optics Vol. 95; no. 2; pp. 287 - 291
• Main Authors: Ferrier, A., Velázquez, M., Doualan, J.-L., Moncorgé, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.05.2009; Springer; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross sections; Doped-insulator lasers and other solid state lasers; Engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Laser applications; Laser materials; Lasers; Lattice dynamics; Luminescence; Nonlinearity; Optical Devices; Optical materials; Optical properties; Optics; Phonons; Phonons and vibrations in crystal lattices; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Optics; Rapid Communication; Single crystals; Spectral emissivity; 42.70.-a; 42.55.Rz; Ternary compounds; Luminescence; Fluorescence; Doped materials; Laser materials; Lead Bromides; Lifetime; Monocrystals; Infrared laser; Solid state lasers; Emission spectra; Praseodymium additions; Infrared radiation; Optical materials; Kinetics; Absorption spectra; Thallium Bromides
• ISSN: 0946-2171; 1432-0649
• DOI: 10.1007/s00340-009-3433-z

This letter presents the optical and spectroscopic properties of a new low-energy phonon, moisture-resistant and non-linear Pr 3+ :Tl 3 PbBr 5 single crystal. Though only weakly doped with Pr 3+ ions, centimetre-size and good-quality single crystals could be grown and analyzed. Absorption and emission spectra as well as fluorescence kinetics were registered in the mid-infrared spectral domain. Strong luminescence at around 4–5.5 μm was observed and assigned to the 3 H 5 → 3 H 4 transition of the Pr 3+ ions. The high value of the resulting emission cross section associated with the long lifetime of the 3 H 5 emitting level indicates that this material could be a good candidate for the development of a broadly tunable mid-infrared solid-state laser source.