Crystal growth and characterization of a new laser material, Nd : Ba-5(PO4)(3)Cl

Single crystals of neodymium-doped barium chloroapatite have been grown by the Czochralski technique and evaluated as a laser medium. Among known Nd-d oped apatites, the material studied is characterized by the longest lumines cence lifetime, tau = 0.375 ms, and one of the largest emission cross secti ons, sigma = 6 x 10(-19) cm(2). The product sigma tau in this crystal, whic h is equal to 2.3 x 10(-22) cm(2) s, is apparently the largest of those of all Nd-doped laser crystals. Laser operation at 1053.8 nm with a slope effi ciency of 25% and an intrinsic slope efficiency of 49% was obtained. (C) 20 00 Optical Society of America [S0740-3224(00)01406-5] OCIS codes: 140.3380, 160.3380, 160.5690, 160.4760, 260.2510.