Abstract

Nd³⁺:Ba₂ZnGe₂O₇ (BZAG) is an attractive diode array pump material due to its long fluorescence lifetime of 340 µs and broad absorption band centered at 804 nm. In addition, the crystal has a broad fluorescence spectra and offers turnability both at 1.05 and 1.34 µm. BZAG possesses the Akerminite crystal structure and the Nd ions substitute into the Ba²⁺ site with charge compensation. Time-resolved site-selection spectroscopy measurements revealed ten different crystal field sites for Nd³⁺ in BZAG and showed the presence of strong energy transfer between ions in nonequivalent sites. The laser performance of Nd³⁺:BZAG rods was studied using a 2-D diode array. The rods were 5 mm in diameter, 11 mm in length, and AR and HR coated at 1054 nm on opposite ends. The pump was close coupled to the polished AR coated rod barrel. An optical slope efficiency of 23% was observed and the round trip (Findlay-Clay) resonator loss was 4.2%.

© 1989 Optical Society of America