Absorption background and laser properties of YAP:Nd

YAP:Nd laser crystals suffer to a greater extent than YAG:Nd from colour centres formation. Stable brownish-yellow or green colourations are evoked by non-oxidizing treatment at high (>1500 °C) temperature. The former colouration may be attributed to holes in the oxygen neighbourhood of Y³⁺ at Al sites, the latter to the F⁺ centres. Brownish-red colouration of less stability is induced by optical pumping of Nd³⁺ containing crystals. It may be attributed to holes in oxygen neighbourhood of Nd³⁺.Dependences of the colourations on the preparation methods are described. YAP:Nd,Zr laser rods, oxygen annealing of which was followed by medium (1100–1400 °C) temperature treatment in vacuum or hydrogen showed no anomalous colouration and extremely low losses at Nd³⁺ emission wavelength independent of pumping power. Using such rods, an overall efficiency of 2·5% and a slope efficiency of 3·0% in CW lasers were reached.