LAUSR

Abstract 0.4% Nd3+-doped Y2O3 transparent ceramics have been investigated from their optical absorption and emission properties to the laser performances at two different wavelengths, 0.946 μm and 1.074 μm. Absorption spectra in the range 300–1000 nm was measured to perform Judd-Ofelt analysis: the calculated spectroscopic parameters Ω2, Ω4 and Ω6 are 7.59 × 10−20, 4.04 × 10−20 and 1.40 × 10−20 cm2 respectively. The measured fluorescence and radiative lifetime of 4F3/2 manifold are determined to be 283 μs and 328 μs respectively. The branching ratios of 4F3/2 → 4I9/2 and 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 transitions are 57% and 38% with corresponding stimulated emission cross sections of 1.02 × 10−20 and 1.16 × 10−20 cm2 respectively. Laser experiments, under 0.808 μm laser diode pumping source, were carried out using a plano-concave resonating cavity. At 1.074 μm, the maximum output power is 3.5 W for an absorbed power of 13.0 W. The optical-to-optical and slope efficiencies reached 26.9 and 31.1%, respectively. For laser operation at 0.946 μm, the maximum output power reached 1.0 W for 13.0 W of absorbed power. The optical-to-optical conversion efficiency and slope efficiency were 7.9 and 12.4%, respectively.