TUNABLE ULTRAVIOLET SHORT-PULSE GENERATION FROM A CE-LICAF LASER-AMPLIFIER SYSTEM AND ITS SUM-FREQUENCY MIXING WITH AN ND-YAG LASER

We developed an all-solid-state tunable short-pulse ultraviolet master oscillator and power amplifier (MOPA) system employing Ce3(+) : LiCaA lF6 (Ce:LiCAF) which can be pumped by the fourth harmonic of a Q-switc hed Nd:YAG laser. The demonstrated tuning range was 281 nm to 314 nm w ith the maximum output energy of 1 mJ from the oscillator maintaining short pulse characteristics. The maximum amplified pulse energy was 4 mJ after the double-pass amplifier. The tuning from 223 nm to 232 nm w as realized by the sum-frequency-mixing of the Ce:LiCAF laser and the Q-sw Nd:YAG laser.