Abstract

The possibility of using direct pumping into the emitting level of the ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$ ion in magnesium-compensated strontium lanthanum aluminate $\left({\mathrm{Sr}}_{1-x}{\mathrm{La}}_{x-y}{\mathrm{Nd}}_y{\mathrm{Mg}}_x{\mathrm{Al}}_{12-x}{\mathrm{O}}_{19}\right)$ to improve $900\mathrm{nm}$ ${}^{4}F_{3∕2}\to {}^{4}I_{9∕2}$ laser emission is discussed. Selection of the composition parameters x and y for optimization of laser emission and reduction of heat generation is based on the spectroscopic and crystal growth characteristics. Pumping in the $865.5\mathrm{nm}$ absorption band ${}^{4}I_{9∕2}\left(Z_1\right)\to {}^{4}F_{3∕2}\left(R_1\right)$ transforms the laser process into a quasi-two-level scheme of very low (below 4%) quantum defects. A very high slope efficiency (over 84%) for $901\mathrm{nm}$ continuous-wave laser emission is demonstrated with Ti:sapphire laser pumping in this band for a crystal with $x=0.4$ and $y=0.05$.

© 2006 Optical Society of America

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