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Definition: lasers based on gain media with a large gain bandwidth, caused by a strong interaction of electronic transitions with phonons
In some laser gain media, particularly in those doped with transition metal ions, there is a strong interaction of the electronic states with lattice vibrations, i.e. with phonons. This vibrational–electronic (in short: vibronic) interaction leads to a strong homogeneous broadening and thus to a large gain bandwidth. In the early years of laser technology, vibronic lasers were sometimes called phonon-terminated lasers.
Vibronic solid-state lasers, i.e. lasers based on vibronic solid-state gain media, allow for wavelength tuning over large ranges, and also the generation of ultrashort pulses. The most important types of vibronic lasers are
- titanium–sapphire lasers for wavelengths between 0.65 and 1.1 μm, also allowing the shortest pulse duration with passive mode locking
- Cr3+:LiSAF and Cr3+:LiCAF lasers, rivaling Ti:sapphire lasers, with a potential for diode pumping, although with a lower gain bandwidth
- alexandrite lasers (Cr3+:BeAl2O3) for 0.7–0.8 μm, an early type of tunable solid-state lasers
- chromium forsterite lasers (Cr4+:Mg2SiO4) for 1.17–1.34 μm, a wavelength region difficult to access with other lasers
- Cr2+:ZnSe and Cr2+:ZnS lasers for very broad emission in the mid-infrared region at 2–3.5 μm
The first laser demonstrated was a ruby (Cr3+:Al2O3) laser, which is also a vibronic laser.
A relatively new vibronic gain medium is Fe2+:ZnSe for mid-infrared emission with 3.7–5.1 μm.
The term vibronic lasers is also used in the context of molecular gas lasers, if the laser transition occurs between vibrational levels of different electronic states. Such gas lasers are usually ultraviolet lasers.
Bibliography
| [1] | J. C. Walling et al., “Tunable alexandrite lasers: development and performance”, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 21 (10), 1568 (1985) |
| [2] | P. Schwendimann, “Model for laser action in vibronic systems”, Phys. Rev. A 37 (8), 3018 (1988) |
| [3] | I. T. Sorokina, “Crystalline mid-infrared lasers” (eds. I. Sorokina and K. L. Vodopyanov), in Solid-State Midinfrared Laser Sources, Springer, Berlin (2004) |
See also: transition-metal-doped gain media, chromium-doped gain media, titanium–sapphire lasers, phonons, gain bandwidth, gas lasers, mid-infrared laser sources
Since October 2008, the Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology is also available in the form of a two-volume book. Maybe you would enjoy reading it also in that form! The print version has a carefully designed layout and can be considered a must-have for any institute library, laser research group, or laser company.



