Stimulated emission of KY(WO4)2:Nd3+ crystals

An investigation was made of the spectroscopic and laser properties of Nd³⁺ ions in KY(WO₄)₂ at 77 and 300°K. An empirical crystal-splitting scheme was deduced for the ⁴F_3/2 and ⁴I_11/2 terms which participate directly in the stimulated emission. The laser transition (~9357 cm^–1) was identified. The widths of the luminescence lines were determined. The lifetime of the metastable state was measured and the absorption cross section of the 10.687 Å line (~5 · 10^–19 cm² at 300°K) was deduced.