The optical properties and laser characteristics of Cr3+ and Nd3+ co-doped Y3Al5O12 ceramics

TLDR: In this article, the authors have fabricated Cr 3+ and Nd 3+ co-doped YAG (Cr;Nd:YAG) ceramics, and investigated their optical properties and laser characteristics.

Abstract: We have fabricated Cr 3+ and Nd 3+ co-doped YAG (Cr;Nd:YAG) ceramics, and investigated their optical properties and laser characteristics. The Cr;Nd:YAG has two broad absorption bands at around 440 nm ( 4 A 2 → 4 T 1 ) and 600 nm ( 4 A 2 → 4 T 2 ) respectively, caused by Cr 3+ ions. In the case of pumping at 440 nm, the maximum effective lifetime of the Cr;Nd:YAG was 737 μs with a 0.1 at% Cr 3+ and 1.0 at% Nd 3+ co-doped YAG sample. Cr 3+ ions take a role of an effective sensitizer to convert the UV light of flashlamp. For single-shot laser operation, a 10.4 J output energy at 1064 nm was obtained with 0.1 at% Cr 3+ and 1.0 at% Nd 3+ co-doped YAG ceramic rod with a laser efficiency of 4.9%. The laser efficiency was found to be more than twice that of a 1.0 at % Nd 3+ :YAG ceramic rod.