Polarized spectral properties and laser operation of Nd:SrAl12O19 crystal

Abstract

Nd:SrAl11O19 (Nd:SRA) crystal has been grown by the Czochralski method. Polarized absorption spectra, polarized fluorescence spectra and fluorescence lifetime were investigated. For σ-polarization, the peak absorption cross section at 798 nm is 2.08 × 10−20 cm2 with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 10.2 nm and the peak emission cross section is 3.36 × 10−20 cm2 at 1048.5 nm with FWHM of 4.80 nm. The Judd-Ofelt parameters Ω2,4,6 were obtained to be 0.51 × 10−20 cm2, 2.08 × 10−20 cm2, and 2.12 × 10−20 cm2, respectively. Continuous-wave laser operation of the a-cut and c-cut Nd:SRA sample has been demonstrated. The maximum output power of 8.33 W was achieved from c-cut sample at an absorbed power of 27.73 W, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 31.3%.