Improving the pumping efficiency of a Nd3+glass laser using dyes

The efficiency of a Nd3+glass laser pumped by a xenon flash lamp was improved by circulating fluorescent dyes around the laser rod. The dyes used here absorb in the spectral region in which the neodymium ions do not absorb and fluoresce strongly at one of the pump bands of Nd3+. This results in a more efficient utilisation of the flashlamp light output. These dyes also prevent solarization due to their absorption in the ultraviolet region. A 38-percent decrease in threshold and a nearly 50-percent increase in slope efficiency were observed.