Low-phonon-frequency chalcogenide crystalline hosts for rare earth lasers operating beyond three microns
The invention comprises a RE-doped MA{sub 2} X{sub 4} crystalline gain medium, where M includes a divalent ion such as Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Pb, Eu, or Yb; A is selected from trivalent ions including Al, Ga, and In; X is one of the chalcogenide ions S, Se, and Te; and RE represents the trivalent rare earth ions. The MA{sub 2} X{sub 4} gain medium can be employed in a laser oscillator or a laser amplifier. Possible pump sources include diode lasers, as well as other laser pump sources. The laser wavelengths generated are greater than 3 microns, as becomes possible because of the low phonon frequency of this host medium. The invention may be used to seed optical devices such as optical parametric oscillators and other lasers.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 20023235
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 4 Apr 2000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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