Infrared continuous-wave laser gain in neodymium aluminum borate: A promising candidate for microchip diode-pumped solid state lasers

Abstract

In this letter, continuous-wave laser gain at 1.06 and 1.3 μm is demonstrated in the neodymium aluminum borate [NdAl3(BO3)4] system. End pumping is achieved by means of a tunable argon-pumped Ti:sapphire and a diode laser. We report on low absorbed pump power at threshold and high pump-to-laser conversion efficiencies (up to 43% and 25% for laser oscillations at 1.06 and 1.3 μm, respectively) in a 0.3 mm long crystal. These good laser properties together with some other spectroscopic parameters described in this work (such as a 100% absorbance, a broad absorption spectrum around 800 nm and high emission cross section at 1.3 μm) make NdAl3(BO3)4 a promising material for diode-pumped microchip lasers.

Flux growth and spectral properties of Yb:YAB single crystal with high Yb3+ concentration

“…The polarized absorption spectra, fluorescence spectrum and lifetime of Yb:YAB crystal were measured at room temperature. Although the fluorescence lifetime decreases with the increase of Yb 3+ concentrations, the lifetime of 23 ms is longer than the 16 ms of Nd 3+ in crystal NdAl 3 (-BO 3 ) 4 , which is one of best self-active laser media [15]. The other spectroscopic parameters of 65.5 at% Yb:YAB crystal are comparable with those of Yb:YAB crystal with low Yb 3+ concentration.…”

EPR of Nd3+ and Er3+ ions in aluminum borates YAl3(BO3)4 and EuAl3(BO3)4

“…Weakly interacting impurity ions of rare earth elements are favorable to possibility of production of the compact laser with a high concentration of emitting ions. An interest in small lasers with pumping by light-emitting diode in the green-blue spectral area stimulates the researches of new solid-state laser systems based on non-linear crystals [1][2][3].…”

Spectroscopic properties of Nd0.5Gd0.5Fe3(BO3)4 single crystal

“…Therefore, crystals of this type can be used as selfdoubling laser media. In particular, optical, luminescent, nonlinear and laser properties of neodymium containing alumoborates were studied in a number of works (e.g., [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]). To the best of our knowledge, there were no similar works concerning ferroborates.…”