Abstract
We have explored the impact of 266 nm pump-induced solarization on the 290 nm laser performance of Ce:LiSrAlF6 crystals. Among the issues considered are the incorporation of codopants (e.g. Na+, Mg2+, Zn2+), and the use of an additional 532 nm beam to rapidly destroy the interfering color centers. The solarization mechanism has been unraveled and found to involve two-photon creation of color centers (via the 4f → 5d → conduction band pathway of Ce3+), followed by the one-photon bleaching of the color centers. Ce:LiSrAlF6 (Ce:LiSAF) laser slope efficiencies as high as 47% can be achieved with the simultaneous introduction of the 266 nm pump and 532 nm bleaching beams; 33% with the 266 nm beam only.
© 1996 Optical Society of America
PDF ArticleMore Like This
C. D. Marshall, S. A. Payne, J. A. Speth, W. F. Krupke, G. J. Quarles, V. Castillo, and B. H. T. Chai
US5 Advanced Solid State Lasers (ASSL) 1994
J. J. Kim, J. Scheid, Chil-Min Kim, and B. H. T. Chai
FrE3 International Quantum Electronics Conference (IQEC) 1992
L. L. Chase, Stephen A. Payne, L. K. Smith, W. L. Kway, H. W. Newkirk, B. H. T. Chai, and M. Long
BB6 Advanced Solid State Lasers (ASSL) 1989