Flashlamp-pumped Cr:LiSAF laser amplifier

A flashlamp-pumped Cr:LiSAF laser amplifier has been developed that is capable of producing ultrashort pulses with a peak power of /spl sim/TW. A systematic experimental study of laser oscillation, its small-signal gain, and chirped-pulse amplification has been performed under the same pumping conditions. The characteristic properties and performance of the Cr:LiSAF laser amplifier are reported.