Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 April 2000
Excited state absorption of laser (≅ 1.3 µm, corresponding to the $^4{\rm F}_{3/2}\to {}^{4}I_{13/2}$ laser channel) and pump (790-860 nm) radiation have beeninvestigated in Nd doped YAl3(BO3)4 non-linear laser crystal. Laser gain slope efficiencymeasurements as a function of pump wavelength have been used to estimate the excited state absorption ofpump radiation. On the other hand, excited state absorption cross-section in the 1300−1400 nmwavelength range has been measured by using two beam spectroscopy. We have obtained that excited stateabsorption cross-section for pump radiation is negligible whereas around 1.3 µm it is comparable tothe stimulated emission cross-section from 4F3/2 state, so that the net gain cross-sectionbecomes negative for certain wavelengths.