Specific features of lasing in Ti{sup 3+}: Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} crystals pumped by two pulses of a Nd:YAG laser

The results of experiments and numerical calculation of parameters of a Ti{sup 3}: Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} laser pumped by one and two pulses of the second harmonic from a Nd:YAG laser are presented. It is shown that upon excitation by two pulses separated by a time delay, the laser efficiency increases compared to that for one-pulse pumping owing to a more efficient use of the energy of each of the pulses for the pumping in the linear-absorption regime and a faster change in the population of the working level. (lasers)