Triple-Wavelength Lasing with a Stabilized β-LaBSiO 5 :Nd 3+ Crystal.

Multi-wavelength lasers, especially the triple-wavelength laser around 1060 nm, could be produced by the 4 F 3/2 → 4 I 11/2 transition of Nd 3+ and present numerous challenges and opportunities in the field of optoelectronics. The Nd 3+ -doped high-temperature phase of LaBSiO 5 (β-LBSO) is an ideal crystal to produce triple-wavelength lasers; however, the crystal growth is challenging because of the phase transition from β-LBSO to low-temperature phase (α-LBSO) at 162 °C. This phase transition is successfully suppressed when the doping content of Nd 3+ is larger than 6.3 at. %, and the Nd 3+ -doped β-LBSO is stable at room temperature. The local disorder of BO 4 tetrahedra due to Nd 3+ doping is essential to the stabilization of β-LBSO. For the first time, the β-LBSO:8%Nd 3+ crystal with a dimension of 1.8 × 1.8 × 1.8 cm 3 is obtained through the top-seeded solution method. The crystal shows strong optical absorption in the range of 785-815 nm, matching well with the commercial laser diode pumping source. The optical emission of 4 F 3/2 → 4 I 11/2 splits into four peaks with the highest optical emission cross section of 2.14 × 10 -20 cm 2 at 1068 nm. The continuous-wave triple-wavelength generation of coherent light at 1047, 1071, and 1092 nm is achieved with the highest output power of 235 mW and efficiency of 12.1%.