Crystal Growth of Er:YAG and Er,Cr:YSGG for Medical Lasers

Erbium doped garnet crystals were grown by Czochralski method. Relationshipes between crystal quality and crystal growth factors such as pulling rate, rotation rate and concentration of active ions and sensitizers were investigated. Optimum pulling and rotation rate for high quality Er:YAG crystal were 1 mm/hr and 20 rpm and for Er,Cr:YSGG crystal 2-4 mm/hr and 10 rpm respectively. The size of the crystals grown was up to 20-30 mm in diameters and 95-135 mm in length. Er:YAG crystal grown under the nitrogen atmosphere was pink and transparent and Er,Cr:YSGG under the 98% {{{{ { N}_{ 2} }}}} and 2% {{{{ { O}_{2 } }}}} was dark green and transparent. Under the polarizing microscopic observations with crossed polar, striations and {211} core facets were detected. Spectroscopic properties for Er,Cr:YSGG laser rods with <111> axis, 80 mm in length and 6.3 mm in diameter for medical laser applications of 2.79 ${\mu}$m wavelength were manufactured and then laser oscillation was achieved.