Erbium doped Yttrium Lithium Flouride

Material
Er:YLF

 

Single crystalline Erbium doped Yttrium Lithium Fluoride rods (Er:YLF or Er:LiYF4) are used in solid-state lasers which are widely used for industrial, medical and scientific applications. Pure YLF crystals are transparent within the spectrum band of 0.12µm-7.5µm. They are also photo, thermo and radiation resistant. The YLF crystals have low values of non-linear refraction index and thermo optical constants, which makes theses crystals applicable in areas as research, development, production, photonics, optic, laser technology and telecommunications.

Typical applications for Er:YLF, Ho:YLF and Tm:YLF products:

  • Highly sensitive detection/ranging measurement systems (Ho:YLF, wavelength - 0.75µm and Er:YLF, wavelength - 0.85µm)
  • Eye-harmless target spotlighting laser system (Er:YLF, wavelength - 1.73µm)
  • Complex measurement systems using several operation wavelengths:
    • Er:YLF, wavelength 0.85µm and 1.73µm
    • Ho:YLF, wavelength 0.75µm and 0.98µm
    • Tm:YLF, wavelength 2.35µm and 1.89µm
  • Guidance systems laser (Ho:YLF, wavelength 3.9µm)
Properties
Optical and spectral properties
Lasing wavelength in nm
2810 nm
Brechungsindex @ 2070 nm
no= 1,442

ne= 1,464

dN/dT in 1/K
-4,1 · 10-6 (∥ c-axis)

-2 · 10-6(∥ a-axis)

Physical properties
Density in g/cm3
3,95
Crystal structure
tetragonal
Thermal conductivity in W/(m · K)
~ 5
Thermal expansion in 1/K
8 · 10-6
Mohs hardness
5
Typical dopant concentration in %
15