title: Pulsed and cw laser oscillations in LiF:F-2 color center crystal under laser diode pumping.
abstract: Continuous-wave laser oscillations in LiF:F-2 crystal optically pumped by a laser diode at 970 nm were demonstrated for what is believed to be the first time. The slope efficiency of 14% and conversion efficiency of 5.5% were achieved for 80 micros pump pulse duration and 5 Hz pulse repetition rate. An efficiency twice as low was measured at a 6.25 kHz pulse repetition rate (50% off-duty factor) and in cw mode of laser operation.
authors.affiliation: Laser Materials and Technology Research Center, General Physics Institute of RAS, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Tasoltan T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Basiev
authors.forename: Sergey V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Vassiliev
authors.forename: Vasily A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Konjushkin
authors.forename: Valentin P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Gapontsev