Optical and lasing properties of fluorophosphate glass
Abstract
Neodymium-doped fluorophosphate glass is a laser material newly-developed for use in high power laser fusion systems. The low refractive index (n d ∼ 1.45) and low dispersion (Abbe number ∼90) of fluorophosphate glasses give them the properties of low nonlinear refractive indices and long Nd 3+ fluorescence lifetimes, which are desirable for the high power laser applications. We have measured the intensity gain of 1.052 and 1.064 nm laser light produced by flashlamp-pumped fluorophosphate glass amplifiers, varying in size from 4-34 clear aperture. The measured gains are compared with those measured in other laser glass types and with those predicted from the spectroscopic properties of Nd 3+. We estimate that the peak cross section for the 4 F 3/2 → 4 I 11/12 transition in commercial fluorophosphate laser glasses is ∼2.2 × 10 -20 cm 2.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Non Crystalline Solids
- Pub Date:
- July 1980
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0022-3093(80)90123-4
- Bibcode:
- 1980JNCS...40..481S