Diode Pumped Nd:LuAlO3 Laser

The optical pumping of helium at 1083 nm is proving useful in applications involving magnetometry, polarized electron sources and neutron spin filters, but existing sources at 1083 nm are limited in efficiency, lifetime, reliability, compactness and power. The crystal laser material Nd:LuAlO3 (neodymium doped lutetium orthoaluminate) has ideal spectroscopic properties, but previous growths have displayed color centers that make lamp pumping impractical. Our previous experiments indicate that these color centers pose no short-term problems with low power near-infrared diode end-pumping. By combining this new laser material {Nd:LuAlO3} with innovative higher power diode pumped laser designs it should be practical to develope greatly improved 1083 nm lasers. The objective of this research is to demonstrate several Watts at 1083 nm from a compact diode pumped neodymium doped lutetium orthoaluminate {Nd:LuAlO3} laser. The technical approach is to establish the properties of commercially available Nd:LuAlO3, use this data in the designing of an appropriate diode pumped laser, construct, test and optimize the performance of the laser.