Efficient Cr3+ sensitized Nd3+: GdScGa-garnet laser at 1.06 μm

Room-temperature cw lasing at 1.061 μm has been obtained in Cr,Nd: GdScGa-garnet. Threshold powers as low as 7 mW and slope efficiencies up to 41% have been measured. Cross pumping of Nd3+ via Cr3+ is nearly as efficient as direct pumping. Time-resolved measurements of the transfer rate yield a transfer efficiency of 0.86 and an average transfer time of 17 μs. An improvement in pulsed broad band pumping can also be expected.