LASER CHARACTERISTICS OF CHROMIUM-DOPED FORSTERITE WITH TI - SAPPHIRE LASER EXCITATION

The spectral absorbance of Cr:forsterite has been studied and found to be highly polarization dependent. At the two orthogonal polarizations, the spectral absorbance peaks at 732nm and 662nm respectively. Efficient pumping of the Cr:forsterite at the wavelengths in the two strong absorption bands can thus be expected. Room temperature, pulsed laser operation of chromium-doped forsterite in a plane-plane mirror cavity, pumped with a tunable Ti:sapphire laser at 732 nm has been demonstrated for the first time. The laser characteristics have been significantly improved compared to those pumped at 532 nm from a Nd:YAG laser in the same cavity.