Fluorescence bands of Nd3+ sites in LiNbO3:Nd,Mg laser system

This paper presents a systematic investigation on the fluorescence (emission and excitation) spectra for the different Nd3+ sites which appear in the LiNbO3:Nd,Mg laser crystal. The study includes the spectral region associated to the 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 and 4F3/2 →4I9/2 radiative transitions. Three sites, denoted as Nd-1, Nd-2 (which also appear in the crystal without Mg2+), and Nd-Mg, have been optically characterized and their corresponding energy levels reported. This information should be taken into account when making a laser with this material.