Optical assessment on a new self-frequency doubling crystal: neodymium-doped lanthanum calcium borate

摘要

A new, to our knowledge, neodymium-doped lanthanum calcium borate crystal (Nd3+:La2CaB10O19, Nd:LCB) has been grown by the flux method. The spectroscopic parameters for Nd:LCB crystal have also been calculated based on Judd-Ofelt theory. The intensity parameters Omega(t) are Omega(2) = 4.96 x 10(-20) cm(2), Omega(4) = 3.94 X 10(-20) cm(2), and Omega(6) = 3.71 X 10(-20) cm(2). The radiative lifetime tau(r) is 349 mu s. The absorption band at 800 ran has a FWHM of 12 nm. The absorption cross section is sigma(a) = 2.40 X 10(-20) cm(2), and the emission cross sections at 1070 nm are sigma(x) = 3.02 X 10(-19) cm(2), sigma(Y) = 2.33 X 10(-19) cm(2), and sigma(Z) = 2.68 X 10(- 19) cm(2). The measured fluorescence lifetime (Tf) is 64 mu s, and the quantum efficiency eta is 18.3%. In comparison with other Nd-doped laser crystals, the calculated parameters show that Nd:LCB crystal satisfies the fundamental spectral condition for laser emission. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.