Abstract

Laser action in Nd:MgO:LiNbO₃ was recently demonstrated by pumping with a rhodamine 6G dye laser operating at 598 nm. MgO-doping substantially reduced photorefractive damage in Nd:LiNbO₃ but did not eliminate it entirely. True cw room temperature laser action was possible for propagation along the c axis (F‖c) but not for propagation perpendicular to c(F⊥c). It was expected that photorefractive damage would be reduced when pumped in the near-infrared. In fact, we could achieve true cw oscillation for F⊥c propagation by pumping with an infrared dye laser operating around 810 nm.

© 1986 Optical Society of America