LiCaAlF6 and LiSrAlF6: tunable solid state laser host materials

Tunable all-solid-state lasers find more and more applications in different fields. Chromium-doped ternary colquiriites, LiCaAlF6 (LiCAF) and LiSrAlF6 (LiSAF), show a tunable laser activity in the region of 720-840 nm and 780-1010 nm, respectively. Other interesting properties enable them to be used as scintillators and window materials. Single crystals of LiCAF and LiSAF have been grown by various methods, including the Czochralski, Bridgeman, zone melting and top-seeded solution growth techniques. Vertical gradient freezing (VGF) is proposed for producing high optical quality crystals.