Abstract: A high efficiency storage laser is achieved by pumping a Tm:LiYF.sub.4 laser from an electrically excited XeBr* fluorescer.

Abstract: Multiple frequency, visible laser outputs are obtained from a 1064 nanometer input by tripling the output of an Nd:YAG laser and using the 355 nanometer radiation for downconversion by pumping a Tm:LiYF.sub.4 crystal.

Abstract: A laser medium includes an ordered perovskite crystal of the general formula: A.sub.2 B Cr.sub.y B'.sub.1-y X.sub.6. A and B are alkali metal ions with the ionic radius of A greater than B. B' is an ion selected from the group consisting of Y.sup.3+, La.sup.3+, Gd.sup.3+, Lu.sup.3+, Sc.sup.3+, Al.sup.3+, Ga.sup.3+, and In.sup.3+. X is an ion selected from the group consisting of F.sup.-, Cl.sup.-, and Br.sup.-. A can be an ion selected from the group consisting of K.sup.+, Na.sup.+,Cs.sup.+, and Rb.sup.+. B can be an ion selected from the group consisting of K.sup.+-, Na.sup.+, and Li.sup.+. The chromium can be represented by Cr.sup.+3 ions. The laser media can be ordered perovskite polycrystalline compounds of the formulae: CsNaCr.sub.0.01 Y.sub.0.99 Cl.sub.6 ; KLi Cr.sub.y Sc.sub.1-y F.sub.6 (where y equals 0.01 and 0.10); K.sub.2 NaCr.sub.y Sc.sub.1-y F.sub.6 (where 0.01 .ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.40).

Abstract: An eye-safe laser cloud height rangefinder comprising an Er:LiYF.sub.4 laser operating at 1.73 .mu.m and a germanium detector.

Abstract: Improved laser system gain is achieved by using Gadolinium to totally replace the Yttrium in a Lithium Yttrium Fluoride (YLF) host crystal so as to increase the amount of Neodymium which can be doped into the host crystal.

Abstract: A solid-state laser operative in the mid infrared region (3-5 .mu.m) comprises a YLF laser including a trivalent terbium activator which is pumped by a resonant external laser source (Ho:YLF, 2.06 .mu.m laser) to directly populate the upper laser level which achieves inversion before non-radiative decay depletes the initial laser-level population. The initial laser manifold that is externally pumped is the .sup.7 F.sub.2 manifold. Inversion is then between the .sup.7 F.sub.3 and .sup.7 F.sub.5 manifolds and laser oscillation at 4.1 .mu.m is obtained.

Abstract: Iron is close to a major surface layer of a yttrium aluminate laser rod so that the layer portion may have a filtering effect. The absorption factor for the short wavelength light of this layer portion depends upon the concentration c (weight percent) of the contained iron and the thickness t (.mu.m) of the iron-containing layer. Consequently, the effect of the iron in the laser rod can be evaluated as a function of the product c.times.t (wt%..mu.m) of the concentration c and the thickness t. In the range of the product c.times.t of 1<c.t<2.times.10.sup.2, a laser output could be obtained which is higher than that of the conventional laser rod not containing iron jointly with a short wavelength light filter. The thickness of the iron-containing layer is 1/4 or less of the radius of the laser rod.

Abstract: A new class of solid-state laser which employs self-pumping from internal laser transitions to achieve inversion in other transitions. A LiYF.sub.4 laser having an activator of trivalent holmium is pumped by a standard flashlamp or by a doubled Nd laser to populate the .sup.5 S.sub.2 manifold. Inversion is achieved between .sup.5 S.sub.2 and .sup.5 I.sub.5 at 1.4 .mu.m. Employing appropriate mirrors, inversion is then produced between .sup.5 I.sub.5 and .sup.5 I.sub.7 at 1.7 .mu.m. Finally inversion is obtained between .sup.5 I.sub.7 and .sup.5 I.sub.8 at 2.06 .mu.m.

Abstract: Single crystals of chromium-doped beryllium aluminate find advantageous use in optical applications and, in particular, in lasers capable of operating at room temperature.