CR-FORSTERITE LASER-PUMPED BY BROAD-AREA LASER-DIODES

We report th demonstration of a Cr:forsterite laser pumped by broad-ar ea laser diodes producing non-diffraction-limited beams. The use of a thin crystal to reduce losses at the lasing wavelength and of short-wa velength pump diodes reduces the lasing threshold to <500 mW. Relative ly low output powers (5 mW) are obtained, but prospects for increasing the power and achieving mode-locked operation of this laser are good and are discussed. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.