Refractory undoped and Tm3+-doped (0.15, 1, 3 and 5 mol.%) Y2O3 single crystals were grown by the micro-pulling-down method. Chemical analysis showed a homogeneous distribution of Tm3+ dopant along the crystal rod. The dependence of thermal conductivity on Tm3+ concentration in Tm3+ : Y2O3 was characterized. The value decreases when the Tm3+ concentration increases in the host but still stays high enough (7.46Wm−1K−1) when doped with Tm3+ (5 mol.%), which represents a promising material for an infrared eye-safe laser application.
Keywords: Tm3+ activator, Thermal conductivity, Micro-pulling-down method, Crystal growth from the melt, Rare-earth sesquioxides, Solid-state laser host.