Abstract

Nd:GYAG, Nd:Gd_xY_3-xAl₅O₁₂, a new compositionally tuned laser material, can improve performance of Nd operating on the R1 to Z5 transition by decreasing amplified spontaneous emission effects. Nd:GYAG has both a larger effective stimulated emission cross section at 0.946 μm and a smaller effective stimulated emission cross section at 1,064 μm than Nd:YAG. Increasing this ratio is especially important in situations where amplified spontaneous emission is a problem, as it is in this case. Second harmonic generation of the 0.946 μm radiation yielded at blue source with an energy of 1.4 mJ using a single BaB₂O₄ crystal and 3.5 mJ using tandem BaB₂O₄ crystals.

© 1998 Optical Society of America