Abstract:
Mid-infrared waveband lasers have demonstrated important applications in the fields of satellite remote sensing, military confrontation, molecule monitoring, laser medicine and basic scientific researches.We reviewed the research development of crystal growth, physicochemical, spectrum and laser properties of mid-infrared laser crystals at the wavelength range of 2.7-3.1 μm which take Ho
3+, Dy
3+ as matrix and LiLuF
4, PbF
2 as activated ions.We focused on the analysis of the concentration effect of activated ions Ho
3+ and Dy
3+, the sensitization mechanism of the co-dopant sensitized ions Yb
3+, and the mechanism of the deactivated ions Pr
3+ on the inhibition of self-termination effect. These results show that the main development direction of the 2.7-3.1 μm mid-infrared laser crystals includes the improvement of luminous efficiency, the exploitation of new characteristic wavelength and the exploitation of novel low phonon energy crystals.