Efficient neodymium-doped glass-ceramic fiber laser and amplifier

We report an efficient glass-ceramic fiber laser and show that its slope efficiency $\left(\sim 30\%\right)$ is not compromised by the presence of Nd-doped fluoride crystals embedded within the core of the single-mode optical fiber. In contrast, the spectroscopy (fluorescence and gain spectrum) of the ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$ ions is dramatically changed by the ceramming process, an indication of strong partitioning of the rare-earth ions into the ${\mathrm{CdF}}_2:{\mathrm{PbF}}_2:{\mathrm{YF}}_3$ crystal environment. The enormous potential for a new range of optical devices based on transparent glass-ceramic materials is highlighted.