Spectroscopic investigation of Nd3+ ion in LiNbO3, MgO:LiNbO3 and LiTaO, single crystals relevant for laser applications

The polarized absorption and luminescence properties of Nd3+ doped isostructural LiNbO3, MgO:LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 nonlinear bulk single crystals are reported. Pump-probe experiments associated with the Judd-Ofelt approach are used to estimate two types of room temperature cross sections: polarized emission cross sections of the dominant F-4(3/2) --> I-4(11/2) transition near 1085 and 1093 nm and polarized excited-state absorption cross sections in the same spectral domain and in the green spectral range corresponding to self frequency doubling. Self frequency-doubling results are also given in Nd:LiNbO3 and Nd:MgO:LiNbO3 versus sample temperature.