Crystallography, spectroscopic analysis, and lasing properties of Nd^3+:Ba_2ZnGe_2O_7

Abstract
Nd3+:Ba2ZnGe2O7 (BZAG) is an attractive material to be pumped by laser diodes because its fluorescence lifetime is 305 μsec and it has a broad absorption centered at 806 nm. In addition, Nd3+:BZAG has a broad fluorescence spectrum and offers the potential for tunable laser output wavelengths centered at 1.05 and 1.34 μm. Time-resolved, site-selection spectroscopy measurements revealed ten different crystal-field sites for Nd3+ in BZAG, but strong energy transfer between nonequivalent ions at room temperature results in emission from only one major site. Diode-array side pumping of 5-mm-diameter rods produced optical slope efficiencies of 22.8%. Crystal structure, Judd–Ofelt analysis, and laser performance are discussed.

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