title: Q-switched laser at 912 nm using ground-state-depleted neodymium in yttrium orthosilicate.
abstract: A ground-state-depleted laser is demonstrated in the form of a Q-switched oscillator operating at 912 nm. By using Nd(3+) as the active ion and Y(2)SiO(5) as the host material, the laser transition is from the lowest-lying Stark level of the Nd(3+4)F(?) level to a Stark level 355 cm(-1) above the lowest-lying one in the (4)I(9/2) manifold. The necessity of depleting the ground (4)I(9/2) manifold is evident for this level scheme as transparency requires a 10% inversion. To achieve the high excitation levels required for the efficient operation of this laser, bleach-wave pumping using an alexandrite laser at 745 nm has been employed. With KNbO(3), noncritical phase matching is possible at 140 degrees C using d(32) and is demonstrated.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beach
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Solarz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Krupke
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Comaskey
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brandle
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berkstresser