Semiconductor-Laser-Pumped LiNdP₄O₁₂ Lasers and Their Applications

Abstract

The material synthesis of stoichiometric (direct compound) solid-state laser crystal LiNdP₄O₁₂ (LNP), which includes Nd atoms as its composition elements, and the early-stage demonstration of the laser-diode-pumped LNP laser are described. Peculiar lasing properties such as simultaneous multitransition oscillations and high-density pumping effects, which result from the inherent high Nd-density, complex dynamics featuring self-organization in multimode oscillations, and the possible application to ultrahigh-sensitivity sensing that effectively utilizes a microcavity configuration are reviewed.