Abstract

Nd:GGG is a laser medium similar to Nd:YAG but it can support a greater concentration of neodymium. We have measured a concentration of ~2.5% of neodymium in a Nd:GGG rod compared with 1% for Nd:YAG. For this high concentration of neodymium in Nd:GGG, we have observed a broader and higher absorption peak at 810 nm. We have used the rod of Nd:GGG in a half-symmetric resonator using a cw low power laser diode as the pumping source. We have tried two different laser diodes and two output couplers having different transmissions at 1.06 µm. With the Nd:GGG rod at 1.062 µm, 3.5 mW was obtained. The Nd:YAG rod was pumped in similar conditions with an output power of 6.3 mW at 1.064 µm. The Nd:GGG laser has shown a lower slope efficiency and a higher threshold than Nd:YAG.

© 1989 Optical Society of America