Apparatus and method for pumping of a weakly absorbing lasant material.

摘要

A laser apparatus and method is disclosed comprising a first lasant material which is located in an optical cavity and which produces laser radiation of a first wavelength, and a second lasant material which is pumped by radiation from the first lasant material, which absorbs laser radiation at the first wavelength in an amount generally comparable to the optimum output coupling and which lases at a second wavelength. The first lasant material and the second lasant material are preferably selected to have minimal losses at the first wavelength and at the second laser wavelength due to excited-state absorption. In one embodiment the first lasant material is selected to be substantially transparent to optical radiation at the second laser wavelength. <IMAGE>