Frequency tuning characteristics of a Q-switched Co:MgF2laser

A tunable
Q
-switched Co:MgF
2
laser has been developed for atmospheric remote sensing applications. Frequency tuning is provided by a quartz etalon and a specially designed three-element birefringent filter covering the whole gain bandwidth of the Co : MgF
2
laser. The laser has good temporal and spectral characteristics, with an emission linewidth of approximately 3 GHz (0.1 cm
^-1
).