Nd Ion Site Distribution and Spectral Line Broadening in YA1G: Lu, Nd Laser Materials

Abstract
High‐resolution optical spectroscopy at low temperatures has been used to study spectral line broadening in Lu‐compensated YA1G: Nd laser materials. The splitting and broadening that is observed is ascribed to a nonrandom distribution of rare‐earth sites. The implications of these observations in laser performance are discussed.