Abstract

The laser-heated pedestal growth (LHFG) method is suitable for growing fiber crystal and for examining various growth conditions. Using this method, we have tried to make Cr⁴⁺:YAG laser crystal, which is promising as an ultrashort light source at communication wavelengths near 1.5 μm. It is commonly known that a strain region, which is called a facet, emerges in YAG crystal made from the melt, such as the one grown by the Czochralski method. The facetted region is inadequate for a lasing media. In the early stage of our study, the occurrence of such a strain region was inevitable. We discovered, however, a growing condition that suppresses facet formation. In this paper, we describe the production of the strain-free Cr⁴⁺:YAG crystal by the LHPG method and also its lasing characteristic.

© 1996 Optical Society of America