Random Laser Action in Nd:YAG Crystal Powder Jon

Abstract

This work explores the room temperature random stimulated emission at 1.064 mu m of a Nd:YAG crystal powder (Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) in a very simple pump configuration with no assistance from an internal mirror. The laser threshold energy as a function of pump beam area and pump wavelength has been measured, as well as the temporal dynamics of emission pulses. The absolute energy of stimulated emission and the absolute laser slope efficiency have been measured by using a method proposed by the authors. The results show a surprising high efficiency that takes the low Nd3+ ion concentration of the crystal powder into account.This work has been partially supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, MINECO project MAT2013-48246-C2-2-P, the Basque Country Government, project IT-943-16, and Saiotek S-PE11UN072 and S-PC13UN017