Cr,Ca:Y3Al5O12 laser crystal grown by the laser-heated pedestal growth method

Laser heated pedestal growth method was used to grow Cr, Ca:Y3Al5O12 (YAG) laser crystals. In order to dope both Cr and Ca ions, an undoped YAG rod on which both CaO and Cr2O3 were deposited was used as sourer material. Incorporation of these ions and formation of Cr4+ ions were confirmed. Strains caused by the {2 1 1}, {1 1 0}, and {1 0 0} facets were observed in the grown YAG crystal fiber; We found the particular growth orientation in which facet-free crystal can be grown. This technique was applied to the crystal with dopants and a laser oscillation was achieved using facet-free Cr, Ca:YAG crystal fiber. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.