V A Akimov

3.77-5.05-μm tunable solid-state lasers based on Fe/sup 2+/-doped ZnSe crystals operating at low and room temperatures

Spectroscopic properties and lasing of Fe:ZnSe and co-doped Fe:Cr:ZnSe crystals in the mid-infrared spectral range were studied at room and low temperatures. Using a free-running Er:YAG laser as a pump source, the output energy of the thermoelectrically cooled Fe:ZnSe laser was 142 mJ with 30% slope efficiency at T=220 K. Passive Q-switched oscillation of Er:YAG laser with Fe:ZnSe crystal was demonstrated and used as a pump source for a Fe:ZnSe laser system. Room-temperature (RT) gain-switched lasing of Fe:ZnSe was achieved in microchip and selective cavity configurations using Q-switched Er:YAG and Raman-shifted Nd:YAG lasers as pump sources. The microchip laser threshold of 100 mJ/cm2 was demonstrated using a Fe:ZnSe crystal without any reflection coatings. A slope efficiency of 13%, oscillation threshold of 1.3 mJ, and tunable oscillation of Fe:ZnSe laser systems over 3.95-5.05 mum spectral range were realized at RT

2.94 μm Er:YAG Q-switched laser with Fe2+: ZnSe passive shutter

A passive Q-switching of 2.94-μm Er:YAG laser has been demonstrated using Fe2+:ZnSe single crystal saturable absorber. A giant pulse width ofabout 35 ns and output energy up to 30 mJ in fundamental mode were obtained.

Room-temperature operation of a Fe2+:ZnSe laser

Pulsed lasing ofthe Fe2+:ZnSe single crystal was demonstrated at room temperature. The laser action centered at 4.4 μm with pulse energies up to 1.4 mJ and an input energy slope efficiency of 11% was obtained vith a 2.94 μm Q-switched Er:YAG pump laser. Continuous tuning from 3.9 to 5.1 μm was demonstrated.

Cr2+:ZnSe laser for application to intracavity laser spectroscopy

Absorption spectra of atmospheric air in the 2.41-2.46 μm wavelength region are recorded by intracavity laser spectroscopy technique using a Cr2+:ZnSe laser. The dynamics of intracavity absorption was studied for the generation time of 0-100 μs. The experiment demonstrates that the Cr2+:ZnSe laser operating in the IR 2-3 μm spectral region can be utilized for high sensitivity intracavity laser spectroscopy measurements.

A Cr{sup 2+}:CdS laser tunable between 2.2 and 3.3 {mu}m

Lasing in a Cr2+:CdS crystal is demonstrated for the first time. The output power of a Cr2+:CdS laser pumped by a pulsed Tm:YAP laser at 1.94 μm achieved 4 mJ and the slope efficiency with respect to the absorbed pump energy was 39%. The continuous tuning was obtained from 2.2 to 3.3 μm in the laser with a dispersion prism resonator.

Efficient cw lasing in a Cr{sup 2+}:CdSe crystal

Continuous wave lasing in a Cr2+:CdSe crystal is obtained for the first time. The Cr2+:CdSe crystal pumped by a 1.908-μm thulium fibre laser generated 1.07 W at 2.623 μm with the quantum slope efficiency with respect to the absorbed power equal to 60%.

Efficient 3.8-4.4 μm tunable Fe:ZnSe laser

Efficient lasing of Fe:ZnSe was demonstrated with a 2.94 pm Er:YAG pump laser. Output energy of 130 mJ, an absorbed energy slope efficiency of 44% and continuous tunability from 3.8 to 4.4 pm at 85 K were obtained. Laser efficiencies were determined for temperatures ranging from 85 to 253 K.