Claims
- 1. 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.
- 2. 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.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 248,749 filed on Sept. 26, 1988 in the names of Robert R. Alfano, Vladimer Petricevic and Swapen K. Gayen which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 128,811 filed on Dec. 4, 1987 in the names of Robert R. Alfano, Vladimir Petricevic and Swapan K. Gayen.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
248749 |
Sep 1988 |
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Parent |
128811 |
Dec 1987 |
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