The optical properties of Er3+- and (Er3+, Yb3+)-doped CaYAlO4 single
crystals grown by the Czochralski technique are presented. These cryst
als emit infrared fluorescence in the eye-safe spectral region around
1.55 mum. The measured electric dipole oscillator strengths of the tra
nsitions between the J manifolds at 300 K are compared with those deri
ved from the Judd-Ofelt theory. The non-radiative relaxation rates fro
m the various excited states are determined by calculating the differe
nce between the measured fluorescence decay rates and the calculated r
adiative transition rates. The stimulated emission cross sections are
determined from the absorption spectra with the aid of the reciprocity
method. The properties of the (Er3+, Yb3+)-doped CaYAlO4 single cryst
als are compared with those of the well-known phosphate glass.