SOLID-STATE ULTRAVIOLET TUNABLE LASER - A CE3+ DOPED LIYF4, CRYSTAL

A large gain and a wide tunability have been achieved over the Ce3+ (5 d-4f) transition in a LiYF4 crystal. A gain coefficient in excess of 1 80 cm(-1) and a superradiant beam of 2.5 mrad divergence are observed at the laser transition, 325.2 nm, when the crystal is optically excit ed either at 193 or at 248 nm. Gain measurements indicate that the las er is tunable over a wavelength range of more than 10 nm.