Influence of other rare earth ions on the optical refrigeration efficiency in Yb:YLF crystals

We investigated the effect of rare earth impurities on the cooling efficiency of Yb3+:LiYF4 (Yb:YLF). The refrigeration performance of two single crystals, doped with 5%-at. Yb and with identical history but with different amount of contaminations, have been compared by measuring the cooling efficiency curves. Spectroscopic and elemental analyses of the samples have been carried out to identify the contaminants, to quantify their concentrations and to understand their effect on the cooling efficiencies. A model of energy transfer processes between Yb and other rare earth ions is suggested, identifying Erbium and Holmium as elements that produce a detrimental effect on the cooling performance. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America