Optimum crystal parameters for room-temperature Cr4+: Forsterite lasers: threshold and finite-power analysis

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 best-fit values of the stimulated emission cross-section and the excited-state absorption cross-section were determined to be 1.23x10(-19) cm(2) and 0.26x10(-19) cm(2), 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.