Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review

Measurement of the Laser Transition Cross Section for Nd+3 in Yttrium Aluminum Garnet

J. K. Neeland, Viktor Evtuhov

Published Apr 10, 1967• 66 citations
Publisher

Abstract

This paper reports measurements of the room-temperature laser transition cross section of ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{+3}$ in yttrium aluminum garnet at 1.06 \ensuremath{\mu}. One method used is based on the measured upper-state lifetime and a determination of the fluorescence branching ratio for this state. The value thus determined is 3.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}19}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. The second method involves measurement of the ratio of fluorescent intensities from the upper laser level to the ground state and to the lower laser level, and measurement of the cross section in absorption of the transition which involves the ground state. The second method yields a value of 2.7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}19}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. The difference represents the contribution of fluorescence to high-lying levels (not included in the determination of branching ratio) and nonradiative transitions. The probable experimental accuracy in both methods is \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15%.

DOI
10.1103/physrev.156.244

Related papers

Spectroscopy of Y3 Al5 O12 : Nd3+ under high-power, picosecond-pulse excitation

George E. Venikouas, Greg Quarles, John P. King +1 more

High-power, picosecond-pulse excitation was used to study the dynamics of the pumping and decay processes in ${\mathrm{Y}}_{3}$${\mathrm{Al}}_{5}$${\mathrm{O}}_{12}$:${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$. The observed fluorescence spectral lines are assigned to transitions from three different metastable states excited by both single-photon and two-photon absorption. The branching ratios, lifetimes, and quantum efficiencies of the metastable states are obtained from the data as well as the two-photon absorption cross sections. The results provide useful information concerning ultraviolet pumping efficiencies of the Nd-YAG (Nd-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) laser transition and the $5d\ensuremath{-}4f$ nonradiative decay rate for this material. In addition, the time-resolved spectroscopy method employed here is shown to be an extremely sensitive technique for obtaining two-photon absorption cross sections.

Physical review. B, Condensed matter•Sep 1, 1984•31 citations

Investigation of Non-linear Energy Transfer Dynamics of Erbium in Yttrium Aluminum Garnet

Christian Vega

Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG, Y_3 〖Al〗_5 O_12) crystals doped with Erbium have posed an interesting position in the field of rare earth solid state lasers as they possess the property of self-saturation, in which the upper energy level in a laser has a much shorter lifetime than that of the lower level. This is the case of the 2.94μm transition in Er:YAG. That property at first seems to make this material unfit for use as a laser gain medium, however further research into these classes of rare earth materials revealed interesting non-liner energy transfer mechanisms that allow it to be a useful mid wave infra-red (MWIR) coherent source in the continuous wave (CW) and pulsed regimes. This came to fruition due to decades of modeling and spectroscopic research investigating the non-linear energy transfer mechanisms of excited state absorption (ESA), energy transfer up-conversion (ETU), and cross relaxation (XR). These effects show up in the rise and fall times of the levels observed through fluorescence. Resulting in the non-exponential rise and fall characteristics and having a squared or even cubed relation to the population. The population evolution for each of the lasing levels is now affected by ions recycling energy and in turn cause the lifetimes of the levels to “effectively” change to a point where simple linear models do not adequately describe the system and its performance. The non-linear energy transfer dynamics of Er:YAG are modeled under high resonant pump conditions. By pumping with selective resonant pumps, the interaction dynamics of the (_ ^4)I_(11/2) and the (_ ^4)I_(13/2) levels in the Erbium ion reveal the contributions from generally ignored non-linear energy transfer mechanisms. Specifically, the multi-photon effect known as excited state absorption (ESA) is modeled by measuring and characterizing the cross section in single crystal Er:YAG samples utilizing a pump and probe technique coupled with transient fluorescence measurements. The measured ESA cross section is then included in the rate equation modeling.

•Jan 1, 2018•0 citations

Orientation of Nd3+ dipoles in yttrium aluminum garnet: Experiment and model

Sylvain Schwartz, Gilles A. Feugnet, Maxence Rebut +2 more

We report an experimental study of the $1.064\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\text{m}$ transition dipoles in neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) by measuring the coupling constant between two orthogonal modes of a laser cavity for different cuts of the YAG gain crystal. We propose a theoretical model in which the transition dipoles, slightly elliptic, are oriented along the crystallographic axes. Our experimental measurements show a very good quantitative agreement with this model and predict a dipole ellipticity between 2% and 3%. This work provides an experimental evidence for the simple description in which transition dipoles and crystallographic axes are collinear in Nd:YAG (with an accuracy better than $1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$), a point that has been discussed for years.

arXiv:0905.3125•Physical Review A•Jun 9, 2009•13 citations

Orientation of Nd3+ dipoles in yttrium aluminum garnet: a simple yet accurate model

Sylvain Schwartz, Gilles A. Feugnet, Maxence Rebut +2 more

We report an experimental study of the 1.064 ¹m transition dipoles in neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd-YAG) by measuring the coupling constant between two orthogonal modes of a laser cavity for different cuts of the YAG gain crystal. We propose a theoretical model in which the transition dipoles, slightly elliptic, are oriented along the crystallographic axes. Our experimental measurements show a very good quantitative agreement with this model, and predict a dipole ellipticity between 2% and 3%. This work provides an experimental evidence for the simple description in which transition dipoles and crystallographic axes are collinear in Nd-YAG (with an accuracy better than 1 deg), a point that has been discussed for years.

•May 19, 2009•0 citations

MEASUREMENT OF THE RELAXATION TIME τ21OF A Y3Al5O12:Nd3+CRYSTAL

A A Zlenko, Vladimir A. Sychugov, G. P. Shipulo

The relaxation time of the transition from the lower laser level 4 I 11/2 to the ground state 4 I 9/2 of the Nd 3+ ions was determined experimentally for a crystal of Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Nd 3+ . The relaxation time was measured by two independent methods. The value obtained, τ 21 ≤ 3· 10 –7 sec, was associated with the very broad (up to ~ 900 cm –1 ) phonon spectrum of the garnet crystal.

Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics•May 31, 1973•11 citations

OPTICAL ABSORPTION SPECTRUM OF EXCITED Cr3+IONS IN YTTRIUM ALUMINUM GARNET

B. K. Sevast’yanov, D. T. Sviridov, V. P. Orekhova +3 more

An investigation was made of the absorption spectrum of Cr 3+ ions in the ground ( 4 A 2 ) and metastable ( 2 E) states, and of the luminescence spectrum of the same ions in Y 3 Al 5 O 12 crystals at 300 and 77°K. The effective absorption cross sections were determined for the 4 A 2 state. The luminescence deexcitation time was found to be 1.5 and 9 msec at 300 and 77°K, respectively. The absorption spectrum of the 2 E state had four wide absorption bands with maxima at 16,700, 23,300, 28,600, and 40,500 cm –1 . The theoretical energy level scheme of Cr 3+ was calculated for Dq = 1725 cm –1 , G = 640 cm –1 , C = 3200 cm –1 , v = 495 cm –1 , and v' = 259 cm –1 , making an allowance for the mixing of the Γ trig S states. The experimentally observed absorption bands were attributed to specific transitions and the theoretical and experimental intensities were compared.

Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics•Apr 30, 1973•13 citations
This paper reports measurements of the room-temperature laser transition cross section of Nd+3{\mathrm{Nd}}^{+3}Nd+3 in yttrium aluminum garnet at 1.06 \ensuremath{\mu}. One method used is based on the measured upper-state lifetime and a determination of the fluorescence branching ratio for this state. The value thus determined is 3.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}10\ensuremath−19{10}^{\ensuremath{-}19}10\ensuremath−19 cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2. The second method involves measurement of the ratio of fluorescent intensities from the upper laser level to the ground state and to the lower laser level, and measurement of the cross section in absorption of the transition which involves the ground state. The second method yields a value of 2.7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}10\ensuremath−19{10}^{\ensuremath{-}19}10\ensuremath−19 cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2. The difference represents the contribution of fluorescence to high-lying levels (not included in the determination of branching ratio) and nonradiative transitions. The probable experimental accuracy in both methods is \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15%.
High-power, picosecond-pulse excitation was used to study the dynamics of the pumping and decay processes in Y3{\mathrm{Y}}_{3}Y3​Al5{\mathrm{Al}}_{5}Al5​O12{\mathrm{O}}_{12}O12​:Nd3+{\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}Nd3+. The observed fluorescence spectral lines are assigned to transitions from three different metastable states excited by both single-photon and two-photon absorption. The branching ratios, lifetimes, and quantum efficiencies of the metastable states are obtained from the data as well as the two-photon absorption cross sections. The results provide useful information concerning ultraviolet pumping efficiencies of the Nd-YAG (Nd-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) laser transition and the $5d\ensuremath{-}4f$ nonradiative decay rate for this material. In addition, the time-resolved spectroscopy method employed here is shown to be an extremely sensitive technique for obtaining two-photon absorption cross sections.
Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG, Y_3 〖Al〗_5 O_12) crystals doped with Erbium have posed an interesting position in the field of rare earth solid state lasers as they possess the property of self-saturation, in which the upper energy level in a laser has a much shorter lifetime than that of the lower level. This is the case of the 2.94μm transition in Er:YAG. That property at first seems to make this material unfit for use as a laser gain medium, however further research into these classes of rare earth materials revealed interesting non-liner energy transfer mechanisms that allow it to be a useful mid wave infra-red (MWIR) coherent source in the continuous wave (CW) and pulsed regimes. This came to fruition due to decades of modeling and spectroscopic research investigating the non-linear energy transfer mechanisms of excited state absorption (ESA), energy transfer up-conversion (ETU), and cross relaxation (XR). These effects show up in the rise and fall times of the levels observed through fluorescence. Resulting in the non-exponential rise and fall characteristics and having a squared or even cubed relation to the population. The population evolution for each of the lasing levels is now affected by ions recycling energy and in turn cause the lifetimes of the levels to “effectively” change to a point where simple linear models do not adequately describe the system and its performance. The non-linear energy transfer dynamics of Er:YAG are modeled under high resonant pump conditions. By pumping with selective resonant pumps, the interaction dynamics of the (_ ^4)I_(11/2) and the (_ ^4)I_(13/2) levels in the Erbium ion reveal the contributions from generally ignored non-linear energy transfer mechanisms. Specifically, the multi-photon effect known as excited state absorption (ESA) is modeled by measuring and characterizing the cross section in single crystal Er:YAG samples utilizing a pump and probe technique coupled with transient fluorescence measurements. The measured ESA cross section is then included in the rate equation modeling.
We report an experimental study of the $1.064\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\text{m}$ transition dipoles in neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) by measuring the coupling constant between two orthogonal modes of a laser cavity for different cuts of the YAG gain crystal. We propose a theoretical model in which the transition dipoles, slightly elliptic, are oriented along the crystallographic axes. Our experimental measurements show a very good quantitative agreement with this model and predict a dipole ellipticity between 2% and 3%. This work provides an experimental evidence for the simple description in which transition dipoles and crystallographic axes are collinear in Nd:YAG (with an accuracy better than $1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$), a point that has been discussed for years.
We report an experimental study of the 1.064 ¹m transition dipoles in neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd-YAG) by measuring the coupling constant between two orthogonal modes of a laser cavity for different cuts of the YAG gain crystal. We propose a theoretical model in which the transition dipoles, slightly elliptic, are oriented along the crystallographic axes. Our experimental measurements show a very good quantitative agreement with this model, and predict a dipole ellipticity between 2% and 3%. This work provides an experimental evidence for the simple description in which transition dipoles and crystallographic axes are collinear in Nd-YAG (with an accuracy better than 1 deg), a point that has been discussed for years.
An investigation was made of the absorption spectrum of Cr 3+ ions in the ground ( 4 A 2 ) and metastable ( 2 E) states, and of the luminescence spectrum of the same ions in Y 3 Al 5 O 12 crystals at 300 and 77°K. The effective absorption cross sections were determined for the 4 A 2 state. The luminescence deexcitation time was found to be 1.5 and 9 msec at 300 and 77°K, respectively. The absorption spectrum of the 2 E state had four wide absorption bands with maxima at 16,700, 23,300, 28,600, and 40,500 cm –1 . The theoretical energy level scheme of Cr 3+ was calculated for Dq = 1725 cm –1 , G = 640 cm –1 , C = 3200 cm –1 , v = 495 cm –1 , and v' = 259 cm –1 , making an allowance for the mixing of the Γ trig S states. The experimentally observed absorption bands were attributed to specific transitions and the theoretical and experimental intensities were compared.