Stimulated emission and energy transfer influence on quantum efficiency of Nd/sup 3+/-doped PLZT transparent ceramic laser

We have managed to obtain optimum quality, highly transparent PLZT:Nd/sup 3+/ samples and in this work we present a throughout investigation of radiative and non-radiative losses that could affect the quantum efficiency (/spl eta/) of laser emissions at 1.06 and 1.34 /spl mu/m. These losses are basically due to three kinds of processes: (1) multiphonon decays; (2) ion-ion energy transfer (ET), and (3) excited state absorptions (ESA). Fluorescence and absorption spectra were measured and the radiative properties and energy transfer processes were evaluated by the Judd Ofelt (JO) theory and Dexter model of multipolar interaction.