Measurement of the F5/24 and H(2)9/22 manifold lifetime in Nd3+:Y3Al5O12 and Nd3+:LaF3

We present direct measurements of the lifetime of the F5/24 and H(2)9/22 manifold in Nd3+:Y3Al5O12 and Nd3+:LaF3, using a fluorescence-based pump-probe technique. The measured lifetimes of 17.9±0.7ps for Nd3+:Y3Al5O12, and 550±80ps for Nd3+:LaF3, agree well with the energy gap law, based on other nonradiative lifetime measurements from the literature for Nd3+:Y3Al5O12 and Nd3+:LaF3.