THE ROLE OF ACTIVE ION CONCENTRATION IN TUNED CHROMIUM FORSTERITE OSCILLATORS

We report a comparative study of the tuned oscillator performance of c hromium forsterite crystals with a range of crystal characteristics. E mphasis is placed on results obtained for the recently developed high dopant level materials. Tuning range, conversion efficiency and peak e mission wavelength are analysed for prism-tuned and Littrow grating ca vities. Diagnostic spectral measurements are carried out following sec ond harmonic generation in KTP. Linewidth is measured for the Littrow cavity, and the potential for narrow bandwidth lasers is assessed.