Diode-pumped LiF:F/sub 2//sup +*/ color center laser tunable in 880-995-nm region at room temperature

Pulsed operation of a tunable LiF:F/sub 2//sup +*/ color center laser has been obtained at room temperature under pumping by 680-nm fiber-coupled linear array laser diodes for the first time to the authors knowledge. The LiF:F/sub 2//sup +*/ tunable laser operates in 880-995-nm region by use of an intracavity birefringent plate. Using a nonselective resonator the laser showed 3% pumping-to-lasing conversion efficiency. In the tunable narrow band operation the measured optical-to-optical conversion efficiency was 2%. The obtained result is expected to cause more widespread applications of diode-pumped LiF:F/sub 2//sup +*/ laser and possibly its commercialization.