Abstract

Efficient laser emission on the quasi-3-level transition ⁴F_3/2→⁴l_9/2 has been demonstrated in various Nd-doped laser materials in the last decade. Among them the Nd:ASL crystal: Nd_0.05Sr_0.7La_0.25Mg_0.3Al_11.7O₁₉ is of great interest since its ⁴F_3/2→⁴l_9/2 transition corresponds to a laser line as low as 900 nm [1], This would result in a blue emission at 450 nm by second harmonic generation in a non-linear crystal. Unfortunately, the absorption lines of Nd:ASL are narrow and located at 792 nm and 798 nm where no commercial high power laser diodes are available. Moreover, the quasi-3-level operation of this laser requires a high-brightness pump source to exceed the transparency intensity all along the crystal.

© 2007 IEEE