Tunable Lasers Handbook

6

Transition Metal Solid-State Lasers

Norman P. Barnes,     NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, Virginia

1. INTRODUCTION

Solid-state lasers are becoming the laser of choice for many diverse applications. Selection of solid-state lasers is based on their performance capabilities, such as available wavelengths, efficiency, tuning range, reliability, and pulse format flexibility. These performance capabilities can be directly attributed to spectroscopic properties that are often unique to solid-state lasers.

Solid-state lasers can be subdivided into two broad categories, transition metal lasers and lanthanide series lasers. The spectroscopic and performance properties of these two broad categories of solid-state lasers are considerably different. ...