Tetravalent chromium (Cr.sub.4+) as a laser-active ion for tunabale solid-state lasers
OwnerRobert R. Alfano, Vladimir Petricevicinventors
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Abstract
A laser-medium in the form of a dielectric crystal or glass doped with tetravalent chromium. The dielectric crystals are of olivine-like structure such as germanates of formula (A) (RE)GeO.sub.4 where (A=Na or Li, RE=Y, Lu or Gd), crystals of willemite structure Zn.sub.2 (Si or Ge)O.sub.4 tetrahedral sites, or any other single-crystal or polycrystalline compound containing the (Si.Ge)O.sub.4 tetrahedra in its crystal lattice, such as Ca.sub.3 La.sub.2 (SiO.sub.4).sub.6 and crystals such as YAG (Y.sub.3 Al.sub.5 O.sub.12).
Claims2
A laser comprising:
- a. a laser medium comprising a single crystal of dielectric material doped with chromium ions in the tetravalent state, the single crystal being a crystal of olivine-like structure such as germanates of formula (A) (RE)GeO.sub.4 where (A=NA or Li, RE=Y, Lu or Gd), crystals of willemite structure Zn.sub.2 (Si or Ge)O.sub.4 or any other single-crystal or polycrystalline compound containing tetrahedral sites in its crystal lattice, such as Ca.sub.3 La.sub.2 (SiO.sub.4).sub.6 and YAG,
- b. optical means for exciting said laser medium with wavelengths in the absorption region of said crystal to emit coherent optical radiation, and
- c. an optical resonant cavity for supporting coherent radiation emitted by the laser medium in the fluorescence region.
A laser medium comprising a single crystal of dielectric material doped with chromium ions in the tetravelent state (Cr.sup.4+), the single crystal being a crystal of olivine-like structure such as germanates of formula (A) (RE) GeO.sub.4 where (A=NA or Li, RE=Y, Lu or Gd), crystals of willemite structure Zn(Si or Ge)O.sub.4 or any other single-crystal or polycrystalline compound containing tetrahedral sites in its crystal lattice, such as YAG and Ca.sub.3 La.sub.2 (SiO.sub.4).sub.6.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.