Abstract

Tuneable solid-state lasers are currently receiving much attention. There is an active effort to find new vibronic media that perform better than currently existing examples. This explains the recent appearance of materials like the chromium-doped Colquirities.¹ Ti:sapphire, however, still remains the best choice for a wide range of applications, especially those involving high average powers. The resurgence of interest in these materials is partially driven by awakening of concerns over the polluted environment.² Lasers form the basis of lidar (light detection and ranging) systems, which is the major technique employed for remote sensing and monitoring applications. Specifically, these materials enable compact and reliable alternatives to cumbersome dye laser systems and bulky flash-pumped systems. The major constraint on a laser used for lidar applications is that of single-frequency output.³ The tunability of Ti:sapphire and its capacity to handle high average and peak powers makes it an ideal material for such a laser.

© 1996 Optical Society of America