Abstract

Single crystal of Cr⁴⁺ - doped LiGaSiO₄ was shown recently [1] to be promising active medium of solid-state lasers tunable within 1,2 - 1,4 μm. This crystal demonstrates intensive broadband fluorescence with the lifetime 15 μsec, i.e. by factor of 4 longer than in widely used Cr⁴⁺:Y₃Al₅O₁₂. However, due to incongruent melting of the compound, growth of bulk crystals Cr⁴⁺:LiGaSiO₄ of laser quality is difficult [2]. On the other hand, rather strong tendency of LiGaSiO₄ melt to vitrification [2] and easy devitrification of the obtained glass at temperatures 650-800 °C [3-4] opens good opportunity for the fabrication of transparent Cr⁴⁺:LiGaSiO₄ glass- ceramics, containing crystalline grains with sizes much less than wavelength, distributed in parent glass phase. This is very promising way for creation of high-quality laser gain medium on the basis of Cr⁴⁺:LiGaSiO₄.

© 2007 IEEE