Femtosecond mode-locked Nd(3+)-doped Ba(Zr,Mg,Ta)O(3) ceramic laser

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Laser Physics
• Solid-State Physics

Background:

• Neodymium-doped (Nd3+) ceramics are crucial for solid-state lasers.
• Disordered crystalline materials offer unique optical properties.
• Nd:glass lasers have limitations in thermal and mechanical stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate continuous wave (CW) and mode-locked laser operation in Nd3+-doped Ba(Zr,Mg,Ta)O3 ceramic.
• To characterize the laser performance and material properties.
• To explore the potential of this ceramic as a gain medium.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication and characterization of Nd3+-doped Ba(Zr,Mg,Ta)O3 ceramic.
• CW laser operation setup using diode-pumped configuration.
• Mode-locked laser operation using a femtosecond pulse generation technique.
• Spectral and power measurements.

Main Results:

• Achieved CW laser operation with a maximum output power of 1.5 W.
• Demonstrated the first sub-200 fs mode-locked laser operation (196 fs) with an average power of 60 mW.
• Observed a broad gain bandwidth of 30 nm and high-emission cross section.
• Noted superior thermal and mechanical properties compared to Nd:glass.
• Laser spectrum spanned both A-site and B-site Nd3+ fluorescence peaks.

Conclusions:

• Nd3+-doped Ba(Zr,Mg,Ta)O3 ceramic is a promising material for high-performance lasers.
• The disordered crystal structure enables broad bandwidth and high gain.
• This ceramic offers advantages over Nd:glass in terms of thermal and mechanical stability.
• The demonstrated femtosecond mode-locking opens avenues for ultrafast laser applications.