Emission and absorption cross-sections of Mg/Er-codoped near-stoichiometric LiNbO₃crystals

Near-stoichiometric (NS) (Mg:) LiNbO₃crystals crystals were grown from melts (Li₂O]n}[Nb₂O₅]=1:1) containing 0.0/0.5, 0.5/0.5, and 1.0/0.5 mol%/mol% MgO/Er₂O ₃. OH absorption study shows that the optical damage threshold Mg concentration of the Er/Mg-codoped NS crystal is just near 1.0 mol%. Polarized visible and near infrared, and unpolarized mid-infrared (2. 7μ⁴I_11/2→⁴ _13/2) emission spectra of Er³⁺ ion in these crystals were measured. From measured emission spectra, the emission and absorption cross-section spectra were calculated based upon McCumber theory, and compared with the data of congruent Er:LiNbO³ bulk material and/or Ti-diffused Er:LiNbO³ strip waveguide and the results obtained from the direct unpolarized optical absorption measurements. The 550, 980, and 1530 nm emission lifetimes were also measured, and compared with the Judd-Ofelt theoretical values and the measured values of the congruent material. The results show that the polarized absorption cross-section data derived from the emission spectra are comparable to the unpolarized cross-section data from direct absorption measurements. The emission and absorption cross-sections, their polarization dependences as well as the lifetime all change definitely as the crystal composition shifts from the congruent point to the near-stoichiometry. In the NS crystal, the Er ³⁺ ion has smaller emission and absorption cross-sections, and longer lifetimes. In contrast, MgO codoping has less effect on the emission and absorption cross-sections, and lifetime. © 2006 IEEE.