Cr3+:LiSAF gain medium possesses a broad emission band in the near-infrared that allows a widely tunable laser operation and generation of ~10 fs light pulses via mode-locking technique. Cr:LiSAF crystals can be grown with a very low loss level (<0,2%/cm). It enables to construct of high-Q-cavities, resulting in lasing thresholds as low as 2 mW and slope efficiencies above 50%.
Moreover, the nonlinear refractive index of Cr:LiSAF is about four times lower than that of Ti:Sapphire, which reduces parasitic nonlinearities in the ultrashort pulse generation and amplification applications.
Spectroscopic and thermo-mechanical properties
Cr:LiSAF crystals