CW and Q-switched operation of a low threshold Cr/sup +3/:LiCaAlF/sub 6/ laser

Results are reported of a study of a longitudinally pumped Cr/sup 3+/:LiCaAlF/sub 6/(Cr:LiCAF) laser in which continuous wave (CW) and repetitive Q-switched operation have been demonstrated for the first time. With a pump wavelength of 670 nm, a threshold of 49 mW and a slope efficiency of 37% were obtained. Output spiking was observed for pump powers as high as ten times threshold, but Q-switched operation produced a single 247-ns output pulse at 3 kHz.<
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