They will prepare and characterize new solid-state inorganic compounds that as laser crystals will provide greater efficiency, enhanced tuning capabilities, and higher powers as compared with materials currently available. Crystals of new borates and fluorides prepared specifically for substitutional doping with the ions Ti(III), Cr(III), Cu(I), and/or Nd(III) provide unique materials for spectroscopic characterization of luminescent phenomena and the determination of laser gain. Through judicious selection of associated cations, compounds of high crystallographic order with congruent melting points below 1670 K can be realized. Compounds with such features could be easily grown as large laser crystals with superb optical quality. Determination of coefficients of thermal expansion for these materials by X-ray diffraction will provide information on their thermal response when subject to high laser powers and elevated operating temperatures. Refinement of atomic parameters from data collected at elevated temperatures will provide details on the microscopic rearrangements occurring with thermal stress. Through chemical synthesis, crystal growth, and detailed characterization of new materials, it is likely that they will realize a new generation of solid-state laser materials.
