NV– diamond laser

Abstract For the first time, lasing at NV − centers in an optically pumped diamond sample is achieved. A nanosecond train of 150-ps 532-nm laser pulses was used to pump the sample. The lasing pulses have central wavelength at 720 nm with a spectrum width of 20 nm, 1-ns duration and total energy around 10 nJ. In a pump-probe scheme, we investigate lasing conditions and gain saturation due to NV − ionization and NV 0 concentration growth under high-power laser pulse pumping of diamond crystal.