Quasi-cw lasing of LiF crystals with F2+ and F2– color centers

Quasi-cw operation of color center lasers was achieved and the duration of the output pulses was ~200 μ sec in the case of a LiF:F₂⁺ crystal and ~400 μsec in the case of LiF:F₂^–. These lasers were used in intracavity spectrum analyzers of ~10^–7 cm^–1 sensitivity in the wavelength range 880–960 nm and ~7×10^–8 cm^–1 in the range 1.12–1.19 μ.