title: Laser ceramic materials for subpicosecond solid-state lasers using Nd3+-doped mixed scandium garnets.
abstract: We have successfully developed and demonstrated broadband emission Nd-doped mixed scandium garnets based on laser ceramic technology. The inhomogeneous broadening of Nd(3+) fluorescence lines results in a bandwidth above 5 nm that is significantly broader than that for Nd:YAG and enables subpicosecond mode-locked pulse durations. We have also found the emission cross section of 7.8 × 10(-20) cm(2) to be adequate for efficient energy extraction and thermal conductivity of 4.7 W/mK from these new Nd-doped laser ceramics. The new laser ceramics are good candidates for laser host material in a diode-pumped subpicosecond laser system with high efficiency and high repetition rate.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Photon Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 8-1-7 Kizugawa-City, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan. okada.hajime@jaea.go.jp
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Momoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiriyama
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakai
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ochi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daido
authors.forename: Toyoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Takagimi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanagitani
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meichin