Excited-state absorption of Er3+-doped LiNbO3

The excited state absorption spectra of an Er:LiNbO3 single crystal are rep orted and analyzed versus polarization in both visible and near infrared sp ectral regions between 500 and 1800 nm. These spectra are completed with ex cited state excitation (ESE) spectra of the bright green anti-Stokes fluore scence observed in this material. These ESE spectra are recorded more parti cularly around 800 and 980 nm, and the results are analyzed in view of up-c onversion laser operation after diode laser pumping around these two wavele ngths. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(99)07007-3].