Visible laser emission of solid state pumped LiLuF4 : Pr3+

In the present work we report on the growth, spectroscopy and laser results of LiLuF4: Pr3+ 1.25% in the melt. Room temperature polarized absorption and emission spectra have been recorded and the decay time of the P-3(0) manifold has been measured. Finally efficient room temperature laser emission have been obtained at 522.8 nm, 607.25 nm, 640.17 nm and 721.5 nm under 480 nm pumping by means of an optically pumped semiconductor laser. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.