Visible laser operation in a Pr3+:LILuF4 monocrystalline fiber grown by the micro-pulling-down method

We report on the growth and laser operation of a fiber-shaped single crystal of Pr3+:LiLuF4 (Pr:LLF) grown by the micro-pulling-down (mu-PD) method. We checked the optical quality of the crystal by measuring its spectroscopic features, and by observing the profile of a laser beam transmitted through it. Using an InGaN laser diode as pump source, we achieved continuous-wave laser emission in the orange, red, and deep red regions, with slope efficiencies comparable with or exceeding previous reports on this material. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first observation of visible laser emissions from a crystal grown by the mu-PD technique. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America