Abstract

The discovery of the tunable alexandrite (Cr: BeAl₂O₄) solid-state laser by Walling et al.¹ in 1978 and the rediscovery of tunable cobalt and nickel doped MgF₂ layers by Moulton et al.² in 1978 signaled a revival of interest in the research and development of new solid-state lasers not seen since the mid-1960s. Through the efforts of several groups of researchers around the world, several new (i.e., modern) solid-state lasers have appeared in the past year or so. These efforts have focused on two distinct types of laser: (1) phonon-terminated wavelength-tunable lasers using a variety of chromium (Cr³⁺) doped crystalline host materials (e.g., oxide garnets,³ emerald,⁴ fluoride perovskites⁵), and (2) 1060-nm neodymium (Nd³⁺) lasers with increased efficiency (relative to the industry standard, Nd:YAG) achieved through effective Cr sensitization of Nd luminescence in co-doped oxide garnets.^6,7 To date, the gadolinium scandium gallium garnet (QSGG), singly doped with Cr or co-doped with Nd/Cr, has attracted the most attention.

© 1984 Optical Society of America