Site selective spectroscopy of Nd ions in gehlenite (Ca2 Al2 SiO7), a new laser material

Abstract Some electronic transitions of neodymium in the Ca 2− x Nd x Al 2+ x Si 1− x O 7 laser material have been investigated using high resolution spectroscopy. The non Gaussian profiles of the absorption and fluorescence lines have been analyzed. From the study it has been deduced the existence of energy transfers between the Nd ions inside the matrix. A partial order of the structure makes gehlenite a material intermediate between a crystal and a glass and a good candidate for a diode pumped tunable laser.