Title :
End-pumped Nd:LaF3 and Nd:LaMgAl11O19 lasers
Author :
Fan, T.Y. ; Kokta, M.R.
Author_Institution :
MIT, Lexington, MA, USA
fDate :
8/1/1989 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Nd:LaF3 and Nd:LaMgAl11O19 (LMA) are promising candidates for pulsed diode-laser-pumped lasers because they have relatively long upper state lifetimes and large absorption bandwidths compared to other Nd3+ doped materials. Crystal growth of LMA and the spectroscopic properties of both materials are described. Continuous-wave (CW) end-pumped lasers have been demonstrated in these materials using a Ti:Al2O3 laser to simulate the diode-laser pump source. Slope efficiencies of 47% for Nd:LaF3 and 32% for Nd:LMA were obtained. The results for Nd:LaF3 are typical for end-pumped, CW, Nd3+ lasers; the lower slope efficiency for Nd:LMA is attributed to excited-state absorption
Keywords :
crystal growth from melt; impurity and defect absorption spectra of inorganic solids; lanthanum compounds; neodymium; optical pumping; solid lasers; visible spectra of inorganic solids; 32 percent; 47 percent; Al2O3:Ti; LaF3:Nd; LaMgAl11O19:Nd; Nd:LaMgAl11O19 lasers; Ti:Al2O3 laser; absorption bandwidths; continuous wave end pumped lasers; crystal growth; excited-state absorption; pulsed diode-laser-pumped lasers; slope efficiency; spectroscopic properties; upper state lifetimes; Absorption; Bandwidth; Crystalline materials; Diodes; Laser excitation; Neodymium; Optical materials; Optical pulses; Pump lasers; Spectroscopy;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
