EFFICIENT CONTINUOUS-WAVE TEM(00) AND FEMTOSECOND KERR-LENS MODE-LOCKED CR-LISRGAF LASER

Efficient high-power (900-mW) TEM(00) cw operation of a Cr:LiSrGaF las er pumped by a Kr+ laser is demonstrated. The results of laser and spe ctroscopic analysis, including upconversion and excited-state absorpti on, are presented and used for the optimization of this laser. Kr+-las er-pumped mode-locked femtosecond operation (64 fs) was performed. Use of a modified resonator, which can decrease the threshold pump and in tracavity power for Kerr-lens mode locking and increase the mode-locke d output power (300 mW), is suggested. The influence of crystal axis m isalignment on the tuning and mode-locking characteristics of the lase r is studied. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America