Lasing properties of neodymium-doped calcium-niobium-gallium and calcium-lithium-niobium-gallium garnets at wavelengths of 1.06 and 1.33 μm

The luminescence spectra and lasing properties of calcium-niobium-gallium and calcium-lithium-niobium-gallium garnet crystals doped with Nd³⁺ ions have been studied. Lasing was achieved in a Nd:CNGG crystal at a wavelength of 1.33 μm (the ⁴F_3/2→⁴I_13/2 transition) under free-running conditions at room temperature. The absolute efficiency reached 0.36%, and the diiferential efficiency 0.75%. The absolute efficiency under Q-switched conditions the same crystals was 0.48% (the ⁴F_3/2→⁴I_11/2 transition, λ = 1.0615 μm).