Improved Hardness of Single-Crystal ${\rm Nd}^{3+}:{\rm YAG}$ to Ionizing Radiation via Co-Doping with ${\rm Cr}^{3+}$

The proliferation of optical elements in systems that are subject to harsh ionizing radiation environments prompts the need for commercially available radiation-hard materials, such as laser materials. In the present study, changes in the material optical absorption are compared for a suite of single-crystal YAG, Nd
³⁺
:YAG, and Cr
³⁺
,Nd
³⁺
:YAG laser materials in response to high-dose-rate gamma radiation events. It is found that the addition of Cr
³⁺
yields radiation hardened material.