Crystallography, spectroscopic analysis, and lasing properties of ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$:${\mathrm{Y}}_3$${\mathrm{Sc}}_2$${\mathrm{Al}}_3$${\mathrm{O}}_{12}$

The crystallographic, optical, and spectroscopic properties of ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$ ${:}_3$ ${\mathrm{Sc}}_2$ ${\mathrm{Al}}_3$ ${\mathrm{O}}_{12}$ are reported from which an assessment can be made regarding the material’s potential as a laser. Individual Stark levels for many of the ${}_{}{}^{2\mathrm{S}+1\mathrm{}}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{L}_{\mathrm{J}}^{}{}_{}{}^{}$ manifolds of ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$(4${\mathrm{f}}^3$) in the crystal have been identified from emission and absorption data up to 17 600 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{-}1}$ at 14 K. The observed crystal-field splitting and the measured cross sections (intensities) associated with manifold-to-manifold transitions are compared with calculated splittings and calculated intensities. The crystal-field and Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters were calculated for Nd and all other rare-earth ions. Branching ratios and diode-array-pumped laser slope efficiencies are also reported. We conclude that ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$:${\mathrm{Y}}_3$ ${\mathrm{Sc}}_2$ ${\mathrm{Al}}_3$ ${\mathrm{O}}_{12}$ has potential as a diode-pumped one-micrometer laser material.