Output characteristics of a coherently pumped laser utilizing an Al2O3:Ti3+ crystal

The spectroscopic and lasing characteristics of laser-pumped Al₂O₃:Ti³⁺ crystals are presented. A conversion efficiency of 42% was achieved in a nonselective resonator. In a selective resonator, the output wavelength was tunable in the range 675–945 nm and the maximum efficiency was 25%. In the pulse-periodic regime, pulse energies of up to 40 mJ were obtained and the average power was ~1.5 W with a divergence of ~1.2 mrad. The lasing kinetics were studied. When excitation by a dye laser was used (τ_p=5μsec), the characteristic features of free lasing were investigated and the Q-switched regime was realized. A study was made of the influence of the structural characteristics of the Al₂O₃:Ti³⁺ crystals on the spectral, energy, and other lasing characteristics.