Efficient, kHz repetition rate, gain-switched Cr:forsterite laser

Summary form only given. Since the first reports of Cr:forsterite lasers, gain-switched, mode-locked, flashlamp-pumped and CW operation have all been reported. Widespread activity in Cr:forsterite laser development persists because it accesses the important 1130-1370 nm region, despite the well-documented limitations of excited state absorption and parasitic absorption. Gain-switched nanosecond lasers in this region are of particular interest, and recently applications in areas such as LIDAR, biomedicine and regenerative amplification have motivated the development of the first gain-switched Cr:forsterite lasers operating at kHz repetition rates. Agnesi et al. (1996) obtained up to 30 mW Cr:forsterite output (10% efficiency) with limited tuning at 2 kHz repetition rate. Avtukh et al. (1997) obtained 10% slope efficiency, 55 /spl mu/J threshold and 100 nm tuning under kHz pumping. Here we report operation at higher power and at repetition rates up to 34 kHz. By careful optimisation of gain medium and laser parameters we have also obtained higher efficiencies and a broader tuning range than previously reported for kHz operation.