Changes in the refractive index of an Nd:YAG laser crystal on excitation of the Nd3+ ions

A polarising interferometer was used to investigate changes in the refractive index of an Nd:YAG laser crystal associated with changes in the populations of the electronic energy levels characterised by different polarisabilities. The study was carried out on diode-pumped crystals as well as on crystals which were flashlamp-pumped under conditions of saturation of the gain experienced by the optical beam. The changes in the refractive index depended nonlinearly on the pump power. The ratio of the real and imaginary parts of the nonlinear susceptibility of an Nd:YAG laser amplifier was determined: this ratio rose from 0.2 to 1.2 when the gain increased from 0.2 to 0.45 cm(-1).