High-Pulse-Energy, All-Solid-State, Ultraviolet Laser Oscillator Using Large Czochralski-Grown Ce:LiCAF Crystal

A large Ce3+:LiCaAlF6 (Ce:LiCAF) crystal of 15 mm diameter was grown successfully by the Czochralski method. Owing to its large size, the Ce:LiCAF crystal demonstrated a maximum output pulse energy from the Ce:LiCAF laser of 21 mJ at a wavelength of 290 nm with an absorbed pump energy of 54 mJ from the fourth harmonic of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser operated at a 10-Hz repetition rate. Furthermore, the lasing threshold was a low 12 mJ, and the slope efficiency was 39%.