Two wavelength KGd(WO/sub 4/)/sub 2/ and PbWO/sub 4/ Raman lasers in the IR and visible under efficient picosecond excitation

Anisotropic /spl chi//sub (3)/ active crystals are promising laser materials for the generation of pico- and nanosecond Raman shifted Stokes- and anti-Stokes-emission, which is of great interest for lidar techniques, applications in fiber optics, as pump source for upconversion fiber experiments and in /spl chi//sub (3)/-active fibers for the generation of white light continuums. Two promising candidates KGd(WO/sub 4/)/sub 2/ and PbWO/sub 4/ are examined in a detailed way concerning their suitability as Raman laser medium. Single pump pulses of E/sub p/=1-10 mJ and /spl tau//sub p/=110 ps were provided by a flashlamp pumped Nd:YAG cavity dumping laser system to excite the SRS activity.