400-mw continuous-wave diode-pumped cr:Lisaf laser based on a power-scalable concept

A high-power diode-pumped Cr-doped LiSrAlF6 (Cr) laser with an output power of 400 mW cw is experimentally demonstrated. The power-scalable concept involving at least one cylindrical cavity mirror is discussed with respect to mode-matching requirements and thermal limitations. Simple arguments indicate that our approach allows one to scale the output power of a Cr laser to the multiwatt level. This is further supported by a comparison with other high-power concepts for diode-pumped solid-state lasers. © 1995, Optical Society of America.