Chromium-doped forsterite laser pumped with 1.06 μm radiation

Laser action in chromium-doped forsterite (Cr:Mg2SiO4), pumped with a 1.064 μm Nd:YAG laser, was demonstrated for the first time. The free-running laser emission is centered at 1.221 μm and has a spectral width of 28 nm. An efficiency of 8% has been achieved with an uncoated crystal produced by the laser-heated-pedestal growth method. The available evidence suggests that the laser action is due to Cr4+ in tetrahedral sites.