A neodymium fluid laser: Laser emission in circulating state

Differing from conventional liquid lasers, a novel concept of fluid laser was provided, which has attractively potential using in high average power lasers. The laser medium was prepared by dispersing Nd3+: phosphate glass micro-balls in organic match liquid. Its optical properties were investigated and the radiative transition rate was calculated by Judd–Ofelt theory. The experiment of laser oscillation in static state indicates that the heat exchanging has limited effect on refractive index of the fluid laser medium in a short time. In circulating state, a laser oscillation occurred at 1058.1nm when pumped by two 808nm diode lasers. The maximum output energy is 2.58mJ with the absorbed pumping energy of 460mJ. This study offers a new way in the exploration of high average power laser.