Title :
Quantum electronic properties of the Na/sub 3/Ga/sub 2/Li/sub 3/F/sub 12/:Cr/sup 3+/ laser
Author :
Caird, John A. ; Payne, Stephen A. ; Staber, P.R. ; Ramponi, A.J. ; Chase, L.L. ; Krupke, William F.
Author_Institution :
Lawrence Livermore Nat. Lab., California Univ., Livermore, CA, USA
fDate :
6/1/1988 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Few of the existing Cr/sup 3+/ vibronic lasers have achieved the slope efficiency and tuning range expected based on their known spectroscopic properties. To discover the cause of this behavior, the performance of chromium-doped gallium fluoride garnet, Na/sub 3/Ga/sub 2/Li/sub 3/F/sub 12/:Cr/sup 3+/, as a laser material has been investigated experimentally. The data reported include absorption and emission spectra, emission rates, quantum efficiency, laser wavelength tuning range, laser output slope efficiencies, and excited-state absorption spectra. Similar properties of the alexandrite laser material were studied for comparison. The results indicate that the performance of the gallium fluoride garnet laser is severely limited by Cr/sup 3+/ excited-state absorption (ESA). A model is presented to account for the unexpected nature of the ESA, which appears to be a common problem for all Cr/sup 3+/ vibronic lasers. Criteria are suggested for choosing Cr/sup 3+/ hosts for which the effects of ESA will be minimized.<>
Keywords :
chromium; garnets; laser tuning; sodium compounds; solid lasers; Cr/sup 3+/:Na/sub 3/Ga/sub 2/Li/sub 3/F/sub 12/; ESA; Na/sub 3/Ga/sub 2/Li/sub 3/F/sub 12/:Cr/sup 3+/ laser; absorption spectra; alexandrite laser material; emission rates; emission spectra; excited-state absorption spectra; laser wavelength; quantum efficiency; quantum electronic properties; slope efficiency; tuning range; vibronic lasers; Absorption; Chromium; Crystalline materials; Gallium compounds; Garnets; Laser excitation; Laser modes; Laser transitions; Laser tuning; Optical materials;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
