Optically dense active media for solid-state lasers

Author

Shcherbakov, I.A.

Author_Institution

Gen. Phys. Inst., Acad. of Sci., Moscow, USSR

Volume

24

Issue

6

fYear

1988

fDate

6/1/1988 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

979

Lastpage

984

Abstract

The author has examined the potential of optically dense active media in solid-state lasers using, as an example, YSGG:Cr³⁺,Nd³⁺ active elements with a chromium concentration=1×10²⁰ cm^-3, and a neodymium concentration=3×10²⁰ cm^-3. One element had a square cross section (dimensions were 0.5×0.5×8 cm³) and the other was cylindrical (0.4-cm-diameter, 7-cm-long). The optical density and geometrical size were chosen so that the limiting pump regime would be encountered at a relatively low average power. The solid-state laser pump cavity was cylindrical. This made it possible to compare the square (zig-zag) and cylindrical active elements under identical conditions. The results are presented. An effect, called the static STON-effect (smoothing of thermo-optical inhomogeneities), is discussed

Keywords

chromium; garnets; neodymium; optical pumping; scandium compounds; solid lasers; thermo-optical effects; yttrium compounds; 0.4 cm; 0.5 cm; 7 cm; 8 cm; YScGG:Cr³⁺, Nd³⁺ active elements; YScGa5O12:Cr,Nd; cylindrical cross section; geometrical size; limiting pump regime; optically dense active media; power; pump cavity; smoothing of thermo-optical inhomogeneities; solid-state lasers; square cross section; static STON-effect; zig-zag; Absorption; Chromium; Crystals; Laser excitation; Laser transitions; Neodymium; Optical pumping; Power lasers; Pump lasers; Solid lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.218

Filename

218