Title :
Optical spectroscopy and diode-pumped laser performance of Nd3+ in the CNGG crystal
Author :
Agnesi, A. ; Dell´Acqua, S. ; Guandalini, A. ; Reali, G. ; Cornacchia, F. ; Toncelli, A. ; Toncelli, A. ; Shimamura, K. ; Fukuda, T.
Author_Institution :
Dipartimento di Elettronica, Pavia Univ., Italy
fDate :
2/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We have exploited the broad absorption and emission bandwidth of the laser crystal Ca3(NbGa)2-xGa3O12 doped with Nd3+ to develop a tunable and mode locked diode-pumped 1.06 μm laser. We also present the fluorescence and excitation spectra at different crystal temperatures from 10 to 298 K. The spontaneous transition probabilities, the branching ratios, and the radiative lifetime are calculated by means of the Judd-Ofelt theory and compared with the experimental results. The stimulated emission cross-sections of the most important transitions have been calculated and compared with laser results. Employing a 2-W laser diode as a continuous-wave pump source, we have been able to tune the emission wavelength in the range 1053-1074 nm. Active mode-locking yielding pulses of 9.6, 18, and 19.7 ps at the three main emission peaks of 1058.6, 1061.2, and 1065.3 nm, respectively. was also demonstrated
Keywords :
calcium compounds; fluorescence; garnets; impurity absorption spectra; infrared spectra; laser mode locking; laser transitions; laser tuning; optical materials; optical pumping; probability; solid lasers; 1.06 mum; 10 to 298 K; 1058.6 nm; 1061.2 nm; 1065.3 nm; 18 ps; 19.7 ps; 2 W; 9.6 ps; CNGG crystal; Ca3(NbGa)2-xGa3O12; Ca3(NbGa)2Ga3O12:Nd; Judd-Ofelt theory; Nd3+; active mode-locking; branching ratios; continuous-wave pump source; crystal temperatures; diode-pumped laser performance; excitation spectra; fluorescence; laser crystal; optical spectroscopy; radiative lifetime; spontaneous transition probabilities; stimulated emission cross-sections; tunable mode locked diode-pumped 1.06 μm laser; Absorption; Bandwidth; Diodes; Laser excitation; Laser mode locking; Laser theory; Laser transitions; Optical pumping; Spectroscopy; Stimulated emission;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
