Optical spectroscopy and diode-pumped laser performance of Nd/sup 3+/ in the CNGG crystal

We have exploited the broad absorption and emission bandwidth of the laser crystal Ca/sub 3/(NbGa)/sub 2-x/Ga/sub 3/O/sub 12/ doped with Nd/sup 3+/ to develop a tunable and mode locked diode-pumped 1.06 /spl mu/m laser. We also present the fluorescence and excitation spectra at different crystal temperatures from 10 to 298 K. The spontaneous transition probabilities, the branching ratios, and the radiative lifetime are calculated by means of the Judd-Ofelt theory and compared with the experimental results. The stimulated emission cross-sections of the most important transitions have been calculated and compared with laser results. Employing a 2-W laser diode as a continuous-wave pump source, we have been able to tune the emission wavelength in the range 1053-1074 nm. Active mode-locking yielding pulses of 9.6, 18, and 19.7 ps at the three main emission peaks of 1058.6, 1061.2, and 1065.3 nm, respectively. was also demonstrated.