Spectroscopic properties of Ho3+ doped Sc2O3 transparent ceramic for laser materials

Systematic high resolution spectral investigations of trivalent holmium doped in Sc2O3 polycrystalline transparent ceramic were performed. The spectral characteristics (Stark energy levels, absorption, and emission cross sections) as well as the Judd–Ofelt (JO) intensity parameters Ωt(t=2,4,6) for the f-f transitions of the C2-symmetry center of Ho3+ in Sc2O3 transparent ceramics were determined. The JO intensity parameters are used to estimate the emission probabilities, radiative lifetimes, and branching ratios of the different Ho3+ transitions. The emission gain cross section for the I57→I58 and I56→I58 transitions of special interest for laser application were determined.