Nd:YSAG单晶的光谱和激光性能

用提拉法生长了(1.5 at.%)Nd~(3+):Y_3Sc_2Al_3O_(12)(YSAG)激光晶体,摇摆曲线表明晶体结晶质量优良.测量了该晶体的吸收和发光光谱,表明其适合成熟的808 nm激光二极管(LD)抽运,其~4F_(3/2)→~4I_(11/2)跃迁最强发射波长为1059 nm,发射截面为1.03×10~(-19)cm~2,同时其激光上能级寿命为253μs,表明Nd:YSAG具有和Nd:YAG相近的效率,但其激光上能级寿命比Nd:YAG长约20μs.以LD抽运2 mm×2 mm×6 mm Nd:YSAG激光棒,激光阈值为0.85 W,最高输出功率为1.1 W,激光斜效率为21.1%,光-光转化效率为18.3%.综合表明Nd:YSAG单晶作为激光性能优良的全固态激光材料,更适合全固态调Q激光输出.

Spectral and laser properties of Nd:YSAG single crystal

In order to solve the problem of low segregation coefficient of Nd³⁺ ions in YAG crystal, Sc³⁺ ions are used to replace some Al³⁺ ions in YAG, so that the YAG cell becomes bigger, thereby the segregation coefficient of Nd³⁺ ion increases. In this paper, the spectra and laser characteristics of Nd:YSAG single crystal are studied. The (1.5 at.%) Nd³⁺:Y₃Sc₂Al₃O₁₂ (YSAG) laser crystal is grown by Czochralski method, and X-ray rocking curve shows that the crystal quality is good. The concentration of ions in Nd:YSAG is measured by an electronic probe. The segregation coefficient of Nd³⁺ ion is calculated to be 0.35, which is approximately twice as much as that of Nd³⁺ in YAG. The absorption and emission spectra are measured, which indicates that it can be pumped by an 808 nm-laser diode (LD). The strongest emission from the transition ⁴F_3/2→⁴I_11/2 of Nd:YSAG peaks at 1059 nm with an emission cross section of 1.03×10^-19 cm², and the lifetime of ⁴F_3/2 is about 253 μs, which indicates that Nd:YSAG has roughly an efficiency equal to that of Nd:YAG, but the laser upper level lifetime is longer than that of Nd:YAG, which is more favorable for Q-switched laser operation. The 808 nm-LD is used to pump Nd:YSAG rod of 2 mm×2 mm×6 mm, the laser operation with a threshold of 0.85 W and a maximum output power of 1.1 W is realized:the laser slope efficiency is 21.1%, and the optical conversion efficiency is 18.3%. All of the above results show that Nd:YSAG single crystal is a good solid state laser material, which is more favorable for Q-switched laser operation.