Cr²⁺:ZnSe laser pumped by1.66 μm or 1.97 μm radiations

Abstract

Cr:ZnSe crystal newly grown by Bridgman method was investigated as an active material for laser coherently pumped either by flashlamp-pumped Er:YAP (wavelength 1.66 μm) or by diode pumped Tm:YAP (wavelength 1.97 μm) laser radiations. The maximal Cr:ZnSe laser output pulse energy, for the case of flashlamp Er:YAP laser pumping, was 14 mJ (slope efficiency 66%) with the length of pulse 120 μs. The generated laser radiation was tunable from 2.15 μm to 2.60 μm with only 2.5 times drop in laser energy. In the case of diode-pumped Tm:YAP laser pumping the maximal obtained Cr:ZnSe laser output power in cw regime was 195 mW for the absorbed pump power 300 mW (slope efficiency 66%). The generated laser radiation was tunable from 2.12 μm up to 2.38 μm.