Broadband Spectra and Efficient Laser Performance of a Disordered Nd:Sr

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Laser Physics
• Solid-State Photonics

Background:

• Neodymium-doped (Nd) laser crystals are crucial for various laser applications.
• Disordered crystal structures offer unique optical properties compared to their ordered counterparts.
• Efficient laser performance is essential for developing advanced laser systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the spectroscopic properties and laser performance of a disordered Nd:Sr0.7La0.3Mg0.3Al11.7O19 (Nd:ASL) crystal.
• To evaluate its suitability for continuous-wave (CW) and passively Q-switched laser operations.
• To explore its potential for high-peak pulsed laser applications.

Main Methods:

• Characterization of polarized absorption and emission spectra using Judd-Ofelt (J-O) theory.
• Realization of laser-diode-pumped CW and passively Q-switched lasers.
• Measurement of laser output power, slope efficiency, pulse width, and peak power.

Main Results:

• Nd:ASL crystal exhibits broadband spectra with large polarized absorption and emission cross-sections.
• Peak emission cross-section of 4.5 × 10⁻²⁰ cm² at 1051 nm and an emission width of 30 nm at 1074 nm.
• Achieved maximum CW output power of 1.95 W (42.6% slope efficiency) and passively Q-switched output power of 0.73 W (7.96 ns pulse width, 5.64 W peak power).

Conclusions:

• Nd:ASL crystal demonstrates efficient laser performance, suitable for both CW and pulsed laser applications.
• The crystal's properties are favorable for developing high-peak pulsed lasers, including Q-switching and mode-locking.
• Nd:ASL is a promising candidate material for advanced laser technologies.