Title :
CW and Q-switched operation of a low threshold Cr/sup +3/:LiCaAlF/sub 6/ laser
Author :
Scheps, Richard ; Myers, Joseph F. ; Payne, Stephen A.
Author_Institution :
Naval Ocean Syst. Center, San Diego, CA, USA
Abstract :
Results are reported of a study of a longitudinally pumped Cr/sup 3+/:LiCaAlF/sub 6/(Cr:LiCAF) laser in which continuous wave (CW) and repetitive Q-switched operation have been demonstrated for the first time. With a pump wavelength of 670 nm, a threshold of 49 mW and a slope efficiency of 37% were obtained. Output spiking was observed for pump powers as high as ten times threshold, but Q-switched operation produced a single 247-ns output pulse at 3 kHz.<>
Keywords :
Q-switching; calcium compounds; chromium; lithium compounds; optical pumping; solid lasers; 247 ns; 3 kHz; 37 percent; 49 mW; 670 nm; CW lasing; Cr/sup +3/:LiCaAlF/sub 6/ laser; Q-switched operation; continuous wave; laser output spiking; longitudinally pumped; low threshold; pump powers; pump wavelength; slope efficiency; Chromium; Diode lasers; Laser excitation; Lenses; Power measurement; Pump lasers; Sea measurements; Solid lasers; Tunable circuits and devices; Wavelength measurement;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
