Abstract

Cr:LiSAF has become an attractive alternative gain medium for the high intensity amplification of femtosecond optical pulses.^1-4 It uniquely combines the advantages of Ti:sapphire and Nd:glass, materials commonly used as gain media in laser systems based on chirped pulse amplification.⁵ Cr:LiSAF has a broad spectral emission bandwidth similar to that of Ti:sapphire allowing the amplification of femtosecond optical pulses. In addition it has an upperstate lifetime of 67 μs long enough for efficient flashlamp-pumping⁶ leading to compact laboratory sized low- cost amplifiers using a mature technology developed over many years.

© 1994 Optical Society of America