Optical Spectra and Intensities of Nd3+ in YAlO3

Abstract
The optical absorption and emission spectra, fluorescence kinetics, and radiative and nonradiative transition probabilities of Nd3+ ions in YAlO3 are investigated. Measurements are presented of the energy levels, absorption and emission cross sections, linewidths as a function of temperature and Nd concentration, thermal line shifts, and fluorescence branching ratios. Judd‐Ofelt intensity parameters for electric‐dipole transition probabilities are derived from measurements of the absorption spectrum. Stimulated emission cross sections, absorption‐band intensities, fluorescence quantum efficiency, possible excited‐state absorption, and other properties of importance for YAlO3:Nd3+ laser action are discussed.