Near infrared and visible tunability from a diode pumped Nd3+ activated strontium barium niobate laser crystal

Tunable laser action from a diode pumped Nd³⁺ activated Sr_xBa_1-x(NbO₃)₂ crystal has been obtained. A wide continuous tuning range of 43 nm in the near infrared region (1050–1093 nm) has been demonstrated due to the broad ⁴F_3/2→⁴I_11/2 emission band present in this system. Simultaneously, 20 nm of tunability in the green region (525–545 nm), as well as 7 nm in the blue one (455–462 nm) have been achieved by tunable self-frequency conversion processes using the quasiphase matching technique, without any angle or thermal tuning of the laser crystal. The results evidence that the system is a reliable candidate for compact tunable coherent devices based on diode pumped Nd³⁺ active ions, which are of interest in many technological and scientific applications. PACS 77.84.Dy; 42.79.Nv; 42.60.Fc; 42.55. Xi