Characteristics investigation of Yb³⁺:YAG crystals for optical refrigeration

Abstract

Yb³⁺:YAG crystal is one excellent material for developing high-power radiation-balanced lasers (RBLs). An experimental study of the laser cooling performances of YAG crystals with various doping Yb³⁺ concentrations, especially for application of RBLs, is reported here. With improved Yb³⁺ doping concentration in YAG crystal, though the resonance absorption coefficient increases, the corresponding external quantum efficiency has been found to decrease with the average fluorescence wavelength being red shifted, which is detrimental to anti-Stokes fluorescence (ASF) cooling. The decrease of the external quantum efficiency can cause the first zero crossing wavelength to red shift, which is not conducive to RBLs. Based on the comprehensive study of the cooling characteristics of the series of Yb³⁺-doped YAG crystals, the optimal Yb³⁺ doping concentration for ASF cooling has been suggested.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

anti-Stokes fluorescence cooling / Yb³⁺:YAG crystal / radiation-balanced lasers

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11604100, 11834003, 61574056, 91536218, and 11874151), the Special Financial Grant from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2016T90346), and 111 Project (No. B12024). B. Zhong thanks L. Z. Deng for helpful discussions.

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