Diode-pumped Cr:LiSrAlF_6 laser

Abstract

A Cr:LiSrAlF₆ laser is diode pumped with both commercial 10-mW visible laser diodes and a higher-power 100-mW cw, 265-mW pulsed diode. Polarization combination of pump diodes to reach threshold is demonstrated with two low-power lasers. Pumping with the high-power diode produced powers of 19.9 mW cw and 78 mW pulsed. Details of the Cr:LiSrAlF₆ crystal growth and high-power diode architecture are presented, along with optical characterization data for the laser resonator. Passive losses in the crystal are less than 0.1% cm⁻¹.