Crystal growth, spectroscopic characterization, and laser performance of a new efficient laser material Nd:Ba5(PO4)3F

Abstract

High quality single crystals of neodymium doped barium fluorapatite have been grown by the Czochralski technique and evaluated as an optical gain medium. A product of the emission cross section and lifetime of Nd3+ luminescence of more than 1.8×10−22 cm2 s at 1055 nm, and laser performance with slope efficiency up to 65% have been obtained.