Abstract
The influence of the host matrix on the spectroscopic and laser properties of Nd3+ in a K-Ba-Al phosphate glass has been investigated as a function of rare-earth concentration. Site-selective time resolved laser spectroscopy and stimulated emission experiments under selective wavelength laser pumping show the existence of a very complex crystal field site distribution of Nd3+ ions in this glass. The peak of the broad stimulated F-4(3/2)-> I-4(11/2) emission shifts in a non monotonous way up to 3 nm as a function of the excitation wavelength. This behavior can be explained by the relatively moderate inter-site energy transfer among Nd3+ ions found in this system and measured by using fluorescence line narrowing spectroscopy. The best slope efficiency obtained for the laser emission was 40%. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America