Infrared continuous-wave laser gain in neodymium aluminum borate:: A promising candidate for microchip diode-pumped solid state lasers

In this letter, continuous-wave laser gain at 1.06 and 1.3 mu m is demonstrated in the neodymium aluminum borate [NdAl3(BO3)(4)] system. End pumping is achieved by means of a tunable argon-pumped Ti:sapphire and a diode laser. We report on low absorbed pump power at threshold and high pump-to-laser conversion efficiencies (up to 43% and 25% for laser oscillations at 1.06 and 1.3 mu m, respectively) in a 0.3 mm long crystal. These good laser properties together with some other spectroscopic parameters described in this work (such as a 100% absorbance, a broad absorption spectrum around 800 nm and high emission cross section at 1.3 mu m) make NdAl3(BO3)(4) a promising material for diode-pumped microchip lasers. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)04916-0].