Diode-pumped tunable room-temperature LiF:F/sub 2//sup -/ color center laser: performance and pump wavelength optimization

Summary form only given. The LiF:F/sub 2//sup -/ laser is the only gain medium which provides smooth tunability in the 1070-1310 nm region and its high gain provides almost constant pulse build-up time and duration during tuning. There is considerable interest in direct diode pumping of LiF:F/sub 2//sup -/ lasers because of the potential for high amplitude stability, high electrical to optical efficiency, ease of handling and compactness. This paper describes the first operation of a LiF:F/sub 2//sup -/ laser directly pumped at room temperature by a pulsed laser diode source operating at 976 mm, together with an investigation of pump wavelength optimization.