Continuous tunable laser operation in both the 1.31 and 1.55 μm telecommunication windows in LiIn(Si/Ge)O4 olivines doped with trivalent chromium

ultrawide tuning range from 1160 to 1620 nm for LiInSiO4 and from 1150 to 1600 nm for LiInGeO4 crystals has been demonstrated. This is the widest bandwidth and the most near-infrared shifted wavelength range for laser operation ever demonstrated for the Cr3+ ion. For what is believed to be the first time tunable laser operation was achieved for both the 1.33 and 1.55 mu m telecommunication windows from a single optical center. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.