Highly efficient generation of tunable picosecond pulses in an LiF:$F_2^-$ laser crystal

An investigation was made of a synchronously pumped pulsed LiF:$F_2^-$ crystal laser. The pump radiation was provided by a neodymium phosphate glass laser operating under passive mode-locking conditions and generating pulses of 7 ps duration. The LiF:$F_2^-$ laser generated 2 ps pulses tunable in the 1.10 – 1.22 $\mu$m range and the efficiency of the conversion process was 35%. Under the conditions of quasi-cw nanosecond pumping and active mode locking the LiF:$F_2^-$ laser generated pulses of duration of the order of 400 ps.