Abstract
A ground-state-depleted laser is demonstrated in the form of a Q-switched oscillator operating at 912 nm. By using Nd3+ as the active ion and Y2SiO5 as the host material, the laser transition is from the lowest-lying Stark level of the Nd3+ 4F3/2 level to a Stark level 355 cm−1 above the lowest-lying one in the 4I9/2 manifold. The necessity of depleting the ground 4I9/2 manifold is evident for this level scheme as transparency requires a 10% inversion. To achieve the high excitation levels required for the efficient operation of this laser, bleach-wave pumping using an alexandrite laser at 745 nm has been employed. With KNbO3, noncritical phase matching is possible at 140°C using d32 and is demonstrated.
© 1990 Optical Society of America
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