Abstract

In the past two years Cr:LiSAF has become an attractive alternative gain medium for the high intensity amplification of femtosecond optical pulses.^1-6 Cr:LiSAF uniquely combines the advantages of Ti:sapphire and Nd:glass, materials commonly used as gain media in laser systems based on chirped pulse amplification⁷. Cr:LiSAF has a broad spectral emission bandwidth similar to that of Ti:sapphire allowing the amplification of femtosecond optical pulses. In addition Cr:LiSAF has a relatively long upperstate lifetime of 67 μs permitting efficient flashlamp-pumping⁸ leading to compact laboratory sized low-cost amplifiers using a mature technology developed in many years for Nd:glass based amplifier systems.

© 1994 Optical Society of America