Influence of the pumping wavelength on laser properties of Fe2+ ions in ZnSe crystal.

ZnSe:Fe2+ active laser crystal properties at different excitation wavelengths (2.94 and 4.1 µm) were investigated, and noticeable variations of the fluorescence spectra shape and their maxima positions, as well as changes in decay times, were observed. A stepwise shift of the laser oscillation wavelength from 4.7 µm at 2.94 µm pumping to 4.95 µm at 4.1 µm pumping was achieved at room temperature.

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.