Laser performance at 1064 nm in Nd$^{3+}$ doped oxi-tellurite glasses*

The search for Nd$^{3+}$ doped new solid-state laser hosts having specific thermo-mechanical and optical properties is very active. Among tellurites, the TeO$_{2}$-ZnO glass combines good mechanical stability, chemical durability, high linear and nonlinear refractive indices, low phonon energies ($\sim$750 cm$^{-1}$) and a wide transmission window (0.4-6 $\mu $m). Their high nonlinear optical properties can be used for the development of Kerr-lens mode-locked subpicosecond lasers. The present work concentrates on the luminescence properties and the laser performance of a TeO$_{2}$-ZnO tellurite glasses doped with Nd$^{3+}$. True continuous-wave laser action is achieved by pumping the sample with a CW Ti:Sapphire laser inside a standard two-mirror laser cavity. A low laser threshold of 8 mW and a laser slope efficiency of 21{\%} could be obtained for an output coupler transmission of 2.7{\%}, which is an encouraging improvement compared to what was reported in the past with other Nd-doped tellurite bulk glasses.