Wavelength tuning in Nd-doped YAG, GYAG and YGAG

Summary form only given. A spectroscopic characterization of the title materials, including branching ratios, lifetimes and cross sections has been performed. In addition, the lasing performance around 0.94 /spl mu/m, including threshold, slope efficiency, and lasing wavelength, has been studied. Spectroscopy and lasing characteristics are presented for the R/sub 1//spl rarr/Z/sub 5/ line of the /sup 4/F/sub 3/2//spl rarr//sup 4/I/sub 9/2/ transition around 0.94 /spl mu/m, although the analysis is also applicable to other transitions such as the 1.06 /spl mu/m and the 1.33 /spl mu/m laser lines.