Active media for high-efficiency neodymium lasers with nonselective pumping

Abstract

Comparative lasing tests were made on various crystalline active media for nonselectively pumped neodymium lasers operating under free-running or Q-switching conditions. The best output characteristics were obtained using a gadolinium scandium gallium garnet (GSGG) crystal in which the luminescence of Nd3+ ions was sensitized by Cr3+ ions. It was concluded that the output characteristics of neodymium lasers could be improved considerably by replacing the widely used YAG:Nd3+ crystals with GSGG:Cr3+:Nd3+ crystals.