title: Growth, thermal properties and laser operation of Nd:Ca3La2(BO3)4: a new disordered laser crystal.
abstract: A novel disordered laser crystal Nd:Ca(3)La(2)(BO(3))(4) is characterized including its crystal growth, structure, thermal properties, inhomogeneously broadened spectra, and laser performance, which result that this crystal should be a promising gain material for the high-power ultrashort pulsed neodymium laser. The complete set of anisotropic thermal properties were systematically studied for the first time. It has been found that thermal contraction happens in the c direction and all the thermal conductivities increase with temperature, indicating a glass-like behavior. Polarized absorption and fluorescence spectra of Nd:Ca(3)La(2)(BO(3))(4) crystal were measured at 298.15 K and 77.3 K, respectively. The results show that both the absorption and the emission spectra of Nd(3+) have been inhomogeneously broadened, and thus it is very promising to be used in laser systems to produce femtosecond pulses. CW laser operations at 1.06 μm along the three crystallographic directions has been demonstrated for the first time. A maximum power of 1.08 W with an optical conversion efficiency of 10.6% and slope efficiency of 12.4% was achieved in the a-cut sample.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials and Institute of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
authors.forename: Zhongben
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Hengjiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cong
authors.forename: Haohai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Huaqiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Huaijin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jiyang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhiyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Zhiguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang