Properties of neodymium laser materials.

The optical properties of neodymium-doped crystalline and glass laser materials have been studied in an attempt to further the development of laser materials (emitting at 1.06 micro) for specific applications. The 1.06-micro fluorescence lifetimes and relative fluorescence conversion efficiencies for the more promising materials such as YAG:Nd and glass:Nd have been measured over the temperature range 300-500 K. Also determined were the effects of sensitization of YAG:Nd by Cr(3+) (the enhancement of 1.06-micro, fluorescence and the Cr(3+) ? Nd(3+) energy transfer times). Further absorption spectra and fluorescence lifetimes have been determined for a large group of crystalline and glass laser media under room temperature conditions. The study of these optical properties and their thermal dependences in this temperature region provide information that is useful in solving laser device problems such as optimization of operating temperature and of pump characteristics. Presented in this paper are the results obtained from the above experimental study of the optical properties together with a collection of data from the literature of optical, thermal, and physical properties of these laser materials.