Diode-pumped spatially dispersed broadband Cr:LiSGAF and Cr:LiSAF c.w. laser sources applied to short-coherence photorefractive holography

Abstract We demonstrate a novel high power broadband laser source for low coherence interferometry that is based on a simple three mirror diode-pumped c.w. Cr 3q laser. The cavity design utilises a single intracavity prism to spatially disperse the oscillating laser mode within the pumped region of the laser crystal in order to counteract spectral gain narrowing. We demonstrate continuous wave spatially coherent output beams with spectral widths as wide as 37 nm, which are tunable across the gain linewidth of the laser. Using a single 100 mm stripe width 670 nm diode pump laser we obtained output Ž powers up to 105 mW for incident pump powers of 410 mW. We demonstrate the application of this source adjusted for a . 13 nm bandwidth output to 3-D imaging through a diffuse medium using photorefractive holography.