Ce^3+:LuLiF_4 as a broadband ultraviolet amplification medium

Ce(3+):LuLiF(4) is shown to have a broad gain spectrum, which is attractive for short-pulse applications. A large small-signal gain over 6 dB/cm and a sufficiently large saturation fluence of 50 mJ/cm(2) were observed for 10-ns probe pulses under KrF excimer laser pumping. In a confocal four-pass configuration, 17-dB amplification was demonstrated for 325-nm picosecond pulses, and 20-dB gain was demonstrated for cw laser light.