Spectroscopic properties of Pr3+:Gd3Ga5O12 crystal

The room-temperature absorption spectrum, fluorescence spectra, and fluorescence decay curves of Pr3+-doped Gd3Ga5O12 single crystal were studied systematically. The standard and modified Judd-Ofelt theories were used to determine the Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Omega(t) (t = 2, 4, 6), radiative transition probabilities, radiative lifetimes and branching ratios. The stimulated emission cross-sections and the fluorescence quantum efficiency of the promising laser levels were calculated and discussed. The multi-exponential behavior of the fluorescence decay curve of the D-1(2) -> H-3(4) transition was explained by using the Inokuti-Hirayama theory. The obtained spectroscopic results show the potential application of the Pr3+-doped Gd3Ga5O12 crystal as visible solid-state lasers. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.