Physical aspects of constructing a nuclear-pumped solid-state laser

An investigation is reported of the physical aspects of the feasibility of constructing a nuclear-pumped solid-state laser. The active media considered for such a laser include neodymium-activated uranyl-doped crystals of yttrium aluminium garnet and several types of silicate and phosphate glasses. It is shown that the laser action in yttrium aluminium garnet and in two types of phosphate glasses may be observed when pumping is provided by the pulsed BARS-6 reactor.