Lasing due to impurity color centers in yttrium aluminum garnet crystals at wavelengths in the range 1.35–1.45 μm

Low-threshold wide-band lasing was achieved for a YAG crystal with optically and thermally stable color centers. The absorption and luminescence spectra were determined, and the gain was measured in the range of wavelengths corresponding to the color-center luminescence. The cross section of the lasing transition was estimated (8 X 10^–19 cm²) and the efficiency of conversion of the pump radiation from a neodymium laser into the output radiation was determined (10%).