Broadband laser tunability of Nd3+ ions in 0.8CaSiO3-0.2Ca3(PO4)2 eutectic glass.

Site-selective spectroscopy and stimulated emission experiments performed in the (4)F(3/2)-->(4)I(11/2) laser transition of Nd(3+)-doped 0.8CaSiO(3-) 0.2Ca(3)(PO(4))(2) eutectic glass are presented. The spectral features of the excitation spectra and those of spontaneous and stimulated emissions reveal the existence of a very complex crystal field site distribution for Nd(3+) ions. As a consequence, the stimulated emission of Nd(3+) in this glass shows a tunability of about 10 nm as a function of excitation wavelength. (c) 2009 Optical Society of America