OPTICAL-PROPERTIES AND SYNCHRONOUSLY PUMPED MODE-LOCKED 1.73-2.10 MU-M TUNABLE LASER OPERATION OF (F2+)AH CENTERS IN KCL-NA+-O2- CRYSTALS

Using synchronous pumping with approximately 100 ps wide 1.32-mu-m Nd3+:YAG laser pulses, we realize mode-locked KCl:Na+:02- (F2+)AH color center laser operation with nearly transform limited approximately 5-10 ps wide pulses throughout a 1.73-2.10-mu-m tuning range. Pulses shorten continuously with increasing pump levels. At maximum available pump power (approximately 2.3 W), average output power up to approximately 380 mW is obtained in the peak of the tuning curve at 1.83-mu-m. Pulse shape and width measurements show that stable mode-locked operation is relatively insensitive towards cavity length detuning.