Broadly tunable continuous-wave laser using color centers

摘要

Broadly tunable infrared lasers analogous to dye lasers operating in the visible spectrum are provided by significant improvements upon an F. sub.A (II) color center laser previously demonstrated in a limited way. The improvements include techniques for also using F.sub.B (II) and F.sub. 2 .sup.+ color centers and include substantially increased concentrations of the F-centers in regions of pumpable geometry, judicious choice of pumping frequencies and powers and variable, frequency-selecting resonators that are capable of producing oscillation anywhere in the color center fluorescence bands. All solid- state cooling by means of contact between the crystal and a solid heat sink is provided in a way that provides the optical quality needed for efficient operation and for greatest tuning bandwidth of the laser. Use of the color centers in distributed feedback devices is described.