Abstract

Fluorides have been recognized for a long time to be ideal laser host materials because of their broad optical transparency, low phonon energy, long fluorescence lifetime, efficient radiative emission, low thermal tensing, and high chemical stability. However, they do have the problems of poor thermal conductivity and weak mechanical strength. With efficient pumping by laser diodes right at absorption band of lasing element, the thermal loading is greatly reduced. The removal of thermal constraint makes fluorides more attractive laser hosts. Moreover, the long fluorescence lifetime also helps the efficient absorption of the intrinsic low peak power of the laser diodes.

© 1993 Optical Society of America