Growth and optical properties of Dy:Y3Al5O12 crystal.

High optical quality Dy:Y 3 Al 5 O 12 (Dy:YAG) crystal has been grown by the Czochralski method. Absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra and fluorescence decay curve of Dy:YAG have been recorded at room temperature. The strongest emission of Dy:YAG crystal is near 583 nm, corresponding to the 4 F 9/2 → 6 H 13/2 transition. The Judd-Ofelt parameters Ω 2 , Ω 4 and Ω 6 were calculated to be 1.49 × 10 −20 cm 2 , 0.94 × 10 −20 cm 2 and 3.20 × 10 −20 cm 2 , respectively. The radiative transition rates, branching ratios and the emission cross sections were calculated. The fluorescence and radiative lifetimes are 0.40 ms and 1.02 ms, respectively, resulting in a quantum efficiency of 39.2%. The results indicate that the Dy:YAG crystal would be a promising yellow solid state laser material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]