Excited state absorption in CaMoO4

We report the first measurement of excited state absorption (ESA) in a calcium molybdate (CaMoO₄) crystal, and compare the ESA spectrum with a stimulated emission spectrum calculated in terms of the McCumber theory of phonon terminated lasers. It appears that the magnitude of ESA would preclude laser action in this crystal. The temporal ESA dependence has been measured and discussed in terms of the most likely assignment of energy levels involved in ESA.