Abstract
We have investigated the stimulated emission properties of Nd3+ doped La2O2S powders at room temperature as a function of pumping energy density, excitation wavelength, and Nd3+ ion concentration. The absolute stimulated emission energy has been measured. Expressions for the slope efficiencies and lasing thresholds as a function of rare earth concentration and pumping wavelengths, which qualitatively agree with experimental observations, are discussed. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America