Nd3+ laser oscillation in fluoride crystals at 1.3-μm short wavelength wing of 4F3/2-4I13/2 transition

Abstract

Nd3+-doped laser media providing gain in (1.30 ± 0.02) μm spectral region can be a potential active materials for optical amplifiers suitable for fiber-optical communication systems. Usually this spectral region corresponds to short wavelength boundary of 4F3/2−4I13/2 emission of Nd3+ ions. But the positive gain here can be suppressed because of the excited-state absorption (ESA) at the 4F3/2–4G7/2 transition. In this paper we report on the spectroscopic and laser study of a number of Nd3+ doped fluoride crystals with disordered structure in the 1.3-μm wave length region. The most promising crystalline fluorides with small ESA and positive gain in 1.3-μm telecommunication window were identified.