Modeling gain saturation in neodymium laser glasses

Gain saturation in neodymium laser glasses is modeled using a simplified treatment of the spectroscopic inhomogeneities and experimental parameters obtained from broadband- and laser-excited fluorescence spectroscopy. The predicted large-signal gain behavior for two silicate and two phosphate glasses agrees with measured gain saturation within the experimental uncertainties. The results are extended to treat saturation of other Nd-doped glasses.