Spectroscopic characterization of Er3+-doped Tl3PbBr5 for midinfrared laser applications

Abstract : This paper presents the optical and spectroscopic properties of a low-phonon-energy, moisture-resistant, and nonlinear Er3+:Tl3PbBr5 single crystal. Though only weakly doped with Er3+ ions, centimeter-sized and good quality single crystals could be grown and analyzed. Excitation and emission spectra recorded at low temperature and crystal-field calculations agree with the existence of only one dominant Er3+ substitutional site. Anti-Stokes emission and excitation spectra as well as fluorescence decays and time-resolved emission and excited-state excitation spectra were recorded and analyzed to determine the different ways of populating the Er3+ excited levels and to provide all the necessary elements for an estimate of the laser potential of the considered material under diode laser pumping around 800 nm.