Abstract

Cr: LiSAF has attracted considerable attention in recent years as a gain medium for all solid-state femtosecond laser systems. Semiconductor-laser pumped Cr: LiSAF lasers provide a compact, efficient and reliable alternative to Ti: sapphire systems pumped by mainframe ion lasers However, the poor thermal properties of LiSAF have proved to be a significant drawback, and attention is now turning to another Cr³⁺ -doped colquiriite, Cr: LiSGaF¹, which has a lower thermal expansion coefficient and a higher thermal conductivity than Cr:LiSAF, and also exhibits lower intrinsic losses.

© 1996 IEEE