Laser spectral dynamics of Nd3+ in CaF2-YF3 crystals

A spectral and dynamic study of spontaneous and stimulated emission of Nd3 in yttrofluorite CaF2-YF3(5%) crystals proves the existence of two main si tes for the rare-earth ion in these crystals. Flash-lamp-pumped laser exper iments show the existence of two laser output lines, centered at 1054 and 1 063 nm, which correspond to stimulated emissions from the two resolved Nd3 sites. The dependence of the time-resolved laser output energy and relativ e intensities of both Lines on the pump energy suggests the existence of so me kind of coupling between the two emissions produced by the stimulated-em ission field itself. The ratio between the output energies at the two wavel engths was modeled as a simple rate-equation laser model that takes the sti mulated-emission coupling into account. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America [S0740-3224(99)01209-6].