Progress in fluoride laser ceramics

Abstract A variety of Er 3+ ‐, Tm 3+ ‐, and Yb 3+ ‐activated CaF 2 ‐, SrF 2 ‐, (Ca, Sr)F 2 ‐ and (Sr, Ba)F 2 ‐based fluoride laser ceramics have been prepared by the hot‐forming technique. Lasing of the SrF 2 :Yb 3+ , (Ca, Sr)F 2 :Er 3+ , (Ca, Sr)F 2 :Tm 3+ , (Ba, Sr)F 2 :Tm 3+ and (Ba, Sr)F 2 :Yb 3+ specimens with diode pumping has been observed for the first time. Thermal conductivity data for the above fluorite‐type laser materials are also presented and discussed. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)