High-energy pulse generation from solid-state ultraviolet lasers using large Ce:fluoride crystals

Abstract A large Ce3+:LiCaAlF6 (Ce:LiCAF) crystal with 15 mm diameter was grown successfully by the Czochralski method. Owing to its large size, 60 mJ, 289 nm pulses were generated directly from a quasi-coaxially pumped Ce:LiCAF laser. In addition, a new noncollinear Brewster-angle-pumping disk oscillator scheme was demonstrated for further output-energy scaling. An ultraviolet solid-state Ce3+:LiLuF4 (Ce:LLF) laser which was pumped transversely by a KrF excimer laser with the repetition rate of 1 Hz produced a 27 mJ, 309 nm pulse using a large Ce:LLF crystal which was grown by the Czochralski method, and the slope efficiency was approximately 17%.