LANTHANUM SCANDIUM BORATE - A NEW HIGHLY EFFICIENT MEDIUM FOR SOLID-STATE LASERS

Properties are reported of an active laser material obtained for the first time, namely, lanthanum scandium borate (LSB) activated by chromium and neodymium ions. High activator concentrations (up to 100 percent of neodymium in the absence of concentrational quenching of luminescence), broad transition cross section and effective sensitization combined with the high optical quality provide for high efficiency of the stimulated emission from neodymium in the new crystal. The performed cycle of comparative lasting tests has shown that LSB lasers are two and six times more efficient than YSGG and YAG lasers respectively.