Spectroscopic, thermal, and laser properties of disordered garnet Nd:CLTGG crystal

A large single crystal of Nd3+-doped calcium lithium tantalum gallium garnet (CLTGG) was successfully grown by Czochralski method. The effective distribution coefficient of Nd3+ was measured as 2.01. A series of thermal properties was systematically tested, and the Nd:CLTGG crystals exhibited superior thermal properties over those of Nd:CLNGG crystals. The emission and absorption spectra were obtained at room temperature. The FWHM (Full Width Half Maximum) of the absorption peak at 808 nm was 18 nm, and the emission peak at 1060 nm was 20 nm. The fluorescence lifetime, absorption coefficient, and other spectral parameters were calculated by J-O theory. In addition, the CW laser performance at a wavelength of 1.06 um was measured at room temperature. The slope and light conversion efficiencies were 17.8% and 16.3%, and the maximum output power was 1.32 W. These results revealed that Nd:CLTGG is promising high-performance laser crystal.