Abstract

An organically-modified silicate (ORMO-SIL)¹ doped with 1,1′,3,3,3′,3′-hexameth-ylindotricarbocyanine iodide (HITCI) was shown to function as a saturable absorber Q-switch for a number of near-IR solid-state lasers. The absorption spectrum of this material is shown in Fig. 1. The broad absorption (peak near 750 nm) indicates the potential application of this material as a saturable absorber Q-switch for the Cr:LiCAF laser (tunable from 725 to 840 ran), the alexandrite laser (tunable from 700 to 818 ran), and the ruby laser (at 694 nm).

© 1996 Optical Society of America