Refractive index, thermal, spectroscopic and 1.55 μm laser properties of an Er:Yb:Lu2Si2O7 crystal

Refractive indexes and thermal conductivities at room temperature of an Er:Yb:Lu2Si2O7 crystal were measured to be 1.745, 1.730, 1.695 around 1550 nm and 9.08, 6.98, 7.29 W m−1K−1 along three optical indicatrix X, Y, Z axes, respectively. Room-temperature polarized absorption spectra, fluorescence decay curves and unpolarized up-conversion fluorescence spectrum of the crystal were investigated. Some spectroscopic parameters related to the 1.55 μm laser operation were calculated. End-pumped by a 975 nm laser diode, a 1565 nm continuous-wave laser with maximum output power of 2.18 W and slope efficiency of 21.8% was realized in an Er:Yb:Lu2Si2O7 crystal.