Abstract

A novel model was used to analyze the experimental threshold and efficiency data of continuous-wave Cr⁴+:forsterite lasers operated around room temperature by taking into account the temperature dependence of the fluorescence lifetime, pump absorption saturation, and excited-state absorption at the lasing wavelength. The besfit values of the stimulated emission cross-section and the excited-state absorption cross- section were determined to be l.23×10⁻¹⁹ cm² and 0.26×10⁻¹⁹ cm², respectively. The numerical calculations further predict the optimum crystal length and absorption coefficient to be 2 cm and 0.34 cm⁻¹ for room-temperature Cr⁴⁺:forsterite lasers.

© 1999 Optical Society of America