Erbium doped Lithium Yttrium Fluorides (Er:YLF) is a crystal used as a laser active medium. It is similar to Nd:YLF, but with erbium ions as the active dopant. When these ions are excited by a pumping source, they emit light at specific wavelengths, making Er:YLF a laser crystal.
Er:YLF is attractive for laser applications because it has several desirable properties, including high thermal stability, broad spectral coverage, and high absorption and emission cross-sections. This makes it a popular choice for a wide range of laser applications, including medical and industrial laser systems.
One of the benefits of Er:YLF over other laser crystals is its high thermal conductivity, which helps to prevent the buildup of heat during laser operation. Additionally, the broad spectral coverage of Er:YLF allows for tunable laser operation and efficient energy transfer from the pump source to the laser output. This results in high laser efficiency and stability.