Progress in the development of colquiriite laser crystals

The development of the Cr-doped colquiriite laser crystals, LiCaAlF/sub 6/ (LiCAF), LiSrAlF/sub 6/ (LiSAF), LiSrGaF/sub 6/ (LiSGaF) and LiCaGaF/sub 6/ (LiCaGaF) started with LiCAF. In this paper the optical and laser properties and growth and thermo-optic properties of these materials are studied.