An experimental optimization of the efficiency of a gain switched tunable ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{4+}\text{: YAG}$ laser at $10\mathrm{Hz}$ is described. The thermal lensing during pulsed operation was measured. Optimal performance occurred at a crystal temperature of $34°\mathrm{C}$ and resulted in an output energy of $\sim 7\mathrm{mJ}$ and a pulse duration of $\sim 35\mathrm{ns}$ . Tunability in the range of $1350–1500\mathrm{nm}$ , spectral linewidth of $\sim 200\mathrm{GHz}$ , and $M^2<4$ are demonstrated. The main laser material parameters are estimated. Such a laser could be employed in a laboratory-based nonscanning lidar system if a narrowband birefringent filter is installed. The tunability will permit the improvement of the ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{4+}\text{: YAG}$ transmitter for water-vapor differential absorption lidar if injection seeding is applied.

© 2008 Optical Society of America

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

Related Journal Articles

• Pulse Amplification of a Single-Frequency Cr:Forsterite Laser (AO)
• Development of a Tunable, Narrow-Linewidth, CW 2.066-μm Ho:YLF Laser for Remote Sensing of Atmospheric CO₂ and H₂O (AO)
• Pump-probe switching in gain-switched lasers (OE)
• Broadly tunable compact continuous-wave Cr²⁺:ZnS laser (OL)
• Multiwavelength mid-IR spatially-dispersive CW laser based on polycrystalline Cr2+:ZnSe (OE)

Related Conference Papers

• Multiphonon Relaxation of Mid- IR Transitions of RE Ions in Fluorite Type Crystals
• Multiphonon Relaxation of Mid- IR Transitions of RE Ions in Fluorite Type Crystals
• Multiwavelength mid-IR spatially-dispersive CW laser based on polycrystalline Cr²⁺:ZnSe
• A new broadly tunable room-temperature continuous-wave Cr²⁺:ZnS_xSe_1-x laser
• Preparation and Spectroscopic Investigation of Diffusion-Doped Fe²⁺:ZnSe and Cr²⁺:ZnSe
• High-power radially-polarized Er:YAG laser with Laguerre-Gaussian (LG01) mode output
• High-power radially-polarized Er:YAG laser with Laguerre-Gaussian (LG01) mode output