Continuous-wave room-temperature laser oscillation of Cr3+: MgO

Continuous-wave laser oscillation of Cr3+:MgO at room temperature was reali zed under argon-ion laser pumping at 476 and 514 nm. The free-running laser wavelength was 840 nm, and with different mirror sets laser oscillation at 824, 830, 870, and 878 nm was also realized. With different crystals a max imum output pourer of 48 mW and a lowest threshold with respect to the abso rbed pump power of 80 mW were realized. The slope efficiencies with respect to the absorbed pump power were as high as 2.3%. No thermal effects were o bserved for absorbed pump powers as great as 2.7 W. (C) 1999 Optical Societ y of America OCIS codes: 140.3580, 160.3380, 140.3380, 140.5680, 160.6990.