Abstract

Recently the first all-solid-state tunable UV laser with direct pumping has been reported [1) This laser is based on the allowed 5d-4f interconfigurational transitions of Ce³⁺ ions in LiCaAlFF₆ (LiCAF:Ce) single crystal. Due to the geterovalent activation nature LiCAF:Ce and LiSrAlF₆:Ce³⁺ (LiSAF) [2] laser media appeared to be quite complex subject for spectroscopic investigations with their laser characteristics strongly dependent on the growth conditions as well as on the presence of charge-compensating additions [2, 3]. Therefore investigations of a variety of the rare earth structure-nonequivalent doping centers in a LiCAF/LiSAF single crystals is of great practical importance.

© 1996 IEEE