Growth, spectroscopic investigations, and some new stimulated emission data of Gd3Ga5O12: Nd3+ single crystals

Abstract

The spectral and laser properties of Gd3Ga5O12: Nd3+ and Nd3Ga5O12 crystals are investigated. Highly perfect crystals are grown by a sophisticated Czochralski technique. Absorption, luminescence, and stimulated emission spectra are studied at 77 and 300 K. The luminescence lifetime of the metastable 4F3/2 state in crystals with high Nd content and the dependence of the spectroscopic quality parameter X on the luminescence intensity parameter Y are determined accurately, using new methods. Further inter-manifold and “Stark” luminescence branching ratios, spontaneous transition probabilities, luminescence linewidths, and peak and effective transition crosssections are obtained. Stimulated emission is observed at 300 K in the cw regime due to the basic 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 transition, and in the long pulse regime due to the additional 4F3/2 → 4I13/2 transition.