Quasi-continuous-wave 1065nm laser oscillation in Nd3+-doped bismuth borate glasses

Abstract Nd3+-doped bismuth borate glasses were synthesized by the conventional melt-quenching method and the spectroscopic properties related to the operation of 1.06 μm laser were investigated. Efficient quasi-continuous-wave laser oscillations around 1065 nm were demonstrated in the glasses. In a hemispherical cavity end-pumped by a Ti:sapphire laser, a maximum output peak power of 185 mW with slope efficiency of 25% was achieved in a 3.1-mm-thick 0.5Nd2O3·99.5(4Bi2O3·6B2O3) glass, and the absorbed pump threshold was about 70 mW. Furthermore, laser oscillation was achieved in a range from 1058 to 1075 nm, which shows that tunable and ultra-short pulse lasers may be realized in the glasses.