Compact blue-green lasers are required for applications in optical data storage, reprographics, and biomedical diagnostics. IR-pumpe d visible upconversion lasers are a particularly promising class of blue-green lasers. In order for the development of IR-pumped visible lasers to progress beyond its current level of development, a reliable source of barium yttrium fluoride material is required. This particular host, doped with ytterbium and thulium was used in the first IR-pumped visible lase@ to operate at room temperature. Researchers are investigating the growth of rare-earth-doped barium yttrium fluoride by the Czochralski technique. Fluoride growth technology, which has been used to grow large boules of YLF and LISAF is being adapted to the growth of barium yttrium fluoride. The development of growth techniques for high quality rare-earth-doped barium yttrium fluoride accelerates the development of IR pumped upconversion lasers, leading to their ultimate introduction into the commercial marketplace.The potential commercial application as described by the awardee: Growth of high optical quality Bay2F,, will accelerate the development and commercial availability of IR-diode-pumped visible upconversion lasers for use in optical data storage, reprographics, and biomedical diagnostics.
