Crystal field inhomogeneity and laser performance of a Nd3+ doped Li2O-BaO-Al2O3-P2O5 glass

These investigations present the spectroscopic and laser properties of Nd³⁺ in a Li2O-BaO-Al2O3-P2O5 aluminophosphate glass. The study includes Judd-Ofelt calculation, stimulated emission cross-section of the ⁴F3/2→⁴I11/2 emission laser transition, lifetime of the ⁴F3/2 state and quantum efficiency. To determine the influence of the crystal field inhomogeneity at the Nd³⁺ site on the spontaneous and laser emissions, site selective excitations were performed both for spontaneous and stimulated measurements. The spectroscopic results are a paradigmatic example of the influence of local disorder on the laser line inhomogeneous broadening which, in this case, can be narrowed by an intracavity tilting plate which acts as a tunable optical filter to adjust the laser wavelength.