Room temperature Fe2+:Cd1-xMnxTe laser generating at 5.4-6 µm.

Six-µm laser generation at room temperature was achieved from Fe2+-doped Cd1-xMnxTe solid-solution active media for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Laser properties of Fe2+:Cd1-xMnxTe crystals with various concentrations of manganese Mn (x=0.1, 0.52, 0.56, 0.68, and 0.76) were investigated. The increase of Mn content in these crystals was shown to result in an almost similar long-wavelength shift of absorption, fluorescence, and laser output spectra of about ∼60 nm per each 10% of Mn. Laser generation was achieved in all crystals with maximum output energies up to 30 µJ (for x=0.52). The laser central oscillation wavelength is significantly influenced by Mn concentration and varies in the range from 5400 nm up to 6000 nm.

Spectroscopic and laser properties of bulk iron doped zinc magnesium selenide Fe:ZnMgSe generating at 4.5 - 5.1 µm.

The Fe:Zn(1-x)Mg(x)Se (x = 0.19, 0.27, and 0.38) solid solutions spectroscopic properties were investigated and laser oscillations were achieved for the first time. The increase of the magnesium concentration in the Fe:ZnMgSe crystal was shown to result in an almost similar long wavelength shift of both absorption and fluorescence spectra of about 60 nm per each 10% of magnesium. With the Fe:ZnMgSe crystal temperature decrease, the fluorescence spectrum maximum shifts towards shorter wavelength resulting mainly from strong narrowing of the longest wavelength fluorescence line. Laser radiation wavelength dependence on the magnesium concentration as well as on temperature was observed. The Fe:ZnMgSe x = 0.38 laser oscillation wavelength increased from 4780 nm at 80 K to 4920 nm at 240 K using the optical resonator without any intracavity spectrally-selective element. In comparison with the Fe:ZnSe laser operating in similar conditions, these wavelengths at both temperatures were shifted by about 500 nm towards mid-IR region.

SrF2:Nd3+ laser fluoride ceramics.

SrF(2):Nd(3+) fluoride ceramics of high optical quality was prepared and its spectroscopic and laser properties investigated. Oscillations of different optical centers depending on the excitation wavelength were obtained with a slope efficiency of up to 19%.

Efficient laser based on CaF(2)-SrF(2)-YbF(3) nanoceramics.

CaF(2)-SrF(2)-YbF(3) fluoride ceramics of high optical quality was prepared, and its absorption, fluorescence, and laser oscillation properties were investigated. Oscillation slope efficiency that was only a few percent lower than that for a single crystal of similar composition was demonstrated under diode pumping.