Measurements of losses and lasing efficiency in GSGG:Cr,Nd and YAG:Nd laser rods.

Laser rods procured from four different vendors were examined to assess the state of the art in GSGG: Cr,Nd crystal growth. Measurement techniques included spectrophotometry (for absorption loss), interferometry (for distortion), polarimetry (for birefringence), and laser resonator insertion. Free running laser efficiency measurements were also performed. The level of losses characteristic of currently available GSGG:Cr,Nd laser rods was generally found to be much higher than that of commercially grown YAG:Nd. The intrinsic lasing efficiency of the co-doped GSGG rods, however, was typically found to exceed that of the YAG:Nd rods by more than a factor of 2.

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