Laser performance of new crystal Cr3+:(CeGd)Sc3(BO3)4
Résumé
Laser generation with Cr3+:(CeGd)Sc3(BO3)4 (Cr3+:CSB) crystal is demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge. The spectroscopic properties of this crystal are similar to other tunable Cr3+-doped crystals. A dye laser "Continuum ND6000" generating 10 ns pulses at 650 nm was used for pumping the CSB crystal in a hemifocal resonator. We measured threshold pump pulse energy of 2 mJ and a slope efficiency of 13%. In free-running operation we obtained an output pulse energy of 0.2 mJ centered at 877 ± 2 nm. We compare these results with Cr3+:LiSAF laser performances and discuss the possible ways to obtain the continuous wave laser generation.