Excited-state-absorption and laser parameters of ${\mathrm{V}}^{2+}$ in ${\mathrm{MgF}}_2$ and ${\mathrm{KMgF}}_3$

We report here absolute excited-state-absorption (ESA) measurements in the ${\mathrm{V}}^{2+}$-doped vibronic laser systems ${\mathrm{MgF}}_2$ and ${\mathrm{KMgF}}_3$. The results show no detrimental ESA in the wavelength region of the possible laser pump sources around 500 nm. ESA in the wavelength domain of infrared laser emission is important only in the case of ${\mathrm{MgF}}_2$:${\mathrm{V}}^{2+}$. A discussion is made concerning to what extent these results could have been predicted. The already reported laser tunability of ${\mathrm{MgF}}_2$:${\mathrm{V}}^{2+}$ between 1.07 and 1.15 μm is then verified and the laser system ${\mathrm{KMgF}}_3$:${\mathrm{V}}^{2+}$ is found tunable between ∼0.95 and 1.15 μm.